§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the President of the Board of Trade for what reasons his Department took from 16 July to 25 October to decide that the letter from the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth relating to his constituent, Mr. C. V. Cottle, was the responsibility primarily of Her Majesty's Treasury. [6621]
Mr. John M. TaylorUnfortunately, my Department has no record of having received my hon. Friend's letter of 16 July to my hon. Friend, the then Under-Secretary of State with responsibility for company affairs.
As soon as my hon Friend brought it to my private office's attention on 17 October that there was an outstanding letter, officials searched the correspondence database. No reference to this letter was found. My hon. Friend therefore kindly faxed to my office a copy of the letter on the same day. On its receipt it was forwarded to my officials who advised, shortly afterwards, that it was more appropriate for Her Majesty's Treasury to answer. The letter was duly transferred to Her Majesty's Treasury on 25 October.