§ Mr. George HowarthTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department on how many occasions(a) the Lord Chancellor and (b) her ministerial colleagues have refused to meet hon. Members to discuss constituency matters in the last 36 months; and what criteria she uses to arrive at such decisions. [30848]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonThe information requested by my hon. Friend is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. In deciding whether a meeting should or can take place, the Lord Chancellor's policy is to take account of (a) the nature of the issue concerned, any relevant background history, and surrounding circumstances; (b) pressure on his, and other Ministers' diaries; and (c) whether the matter can be fully and satisfactorily dealt with in correspondence.