§ 31. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance why it took until 8th July for her to answer a letter dated 26th May from Mr. T. H. Smith, the General Secretary of the National League of the Blind of Great Britain and Ireland; whether she is aware that this reply was then only sent after a further communication, dated 21st June, had been sent by Mr. Smith; and whether she will ensure that replies are sent to correspondents before an expiration of six weeks.
§ Mr. PentlandMr. Smith's letter raised issues of policy which my right hon. Friend was anxious to consider carefully and this inevitably took time.
§ 32. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether she is aware that the hon. Member for West Ham, North, wrote to her on 2nd July complaining on behalf of the West Ham Branch of the National League of the Blind of matters connected with the Social Security Bill, 1966; why her Department sent a reply which was a photostat of a letter sent to the General Secretary of the League of the Blind, dated 8th July, which was the origin of the hon. Member's complaint; and whether she will make a statement.
§ Mr. PentlandIt seemed to me that a helpful and sensible way for me to reply to the letters from my hon. Friend and from other hon. Members enclosing representations on this subject from the National League of the Blind was to send them a copy of my right hon. Friend's letter to the General Secretary of the League, which fully set out the considerations involved.