HC Deb 19 October 1966 vol 734 cc53-4W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that on a number of occasions the hon. Member for West Ham, North, has telephoned various Government and Ministerial offices between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. asking for someone in authority and has been advised chat no one has arrived; and whether, in his call for increased production and efficiency, he will see to it that all Ministerial offices have a senior secretary or official present between 9 a.m. and 5.30 p.m.

The Prime Minister

If, as I assume, my hon. Friend is concerned with Ministers' Private Offices there can be very few which are not normally manned for considerably more than eight and a half hours a day. The arrangements within such offices are, of course, the responsibility of the Minister concerned and perhaps my hon. Friend would care to bring any cases of difficulty to their attention.