§ Q11. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Prime Minister whether, following the communications sent to him by the hon. Member for West Ham, North, on 2nd and 9th January, 1969, he will now take steps to expedite Ministerial replies to Members of Parliament and to ensure that Ministers send such replies under their own signatures and not those of their civil servants.
§ The Prime MinisterMinisters in charge of Departments are fully aware of their responsibility for ensuring that Members of Parliament receive replies with as much dispatch as possible. As to the signature of replies, I refer to the Answer I gave my hon. Friend on 21st January.—[Vol. 776, c. 85.]
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Prime Minister whether he will take action to ensure that when Members of Parliament write to Ministers, replies, or interim replies, are sent by Ministers or junior Ministers within a month, in addition to any formal acknowledgement of receipt card which may have been sent to the Members concerned.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Minister in charge of each Department is responsible for ensuring that Members of Parliament receive replies with as much dispatch as possible. I do not consider it would be useful to lay down a rigid time limit.