§ 65. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the Assistant Commissioner of Police did not reply to the communication of the hon. Member for West Ham, North, of 4th December on police administration until 31st January; and whether he will give instructions that letters from Members of Parliament are to be answered in less than eight weeks.
§ Mr. Elystan MorganThe Commissioner of Police regrets the delay. It was partly caused by the illness of one of the officers concerned in the incident, and by the court commitments of the officer investigating the complaint. Letters from Members of Parliament are given priority but in the present case there was an error in procedure.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of the growing practice whereby his Department is taking between five and 10 weeks to send replies to the correspondence of Members of Parliament; and what action he plans to take to expedite these replies to reduce the time taken to two or three weeks as was the case until a few years ago.
§ Mr. CallaghanAbout 85 per cent. of the 10,500 or so letters received from362W hon. Members during 1968 were answered in less than three weeks. This does not compare unfavourably with the performance of earlier years. In some cases where inquiries have to be made, the time taken to reply will be longer, but my Department is well aware that a reply should be sent at the earliest possible date.