§ 27. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why it took his Department until Tuesday, 8th December to reply to a communication from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, dated 12th November concerning Prisoner No. 197686; why it was necessary for a telephone call and a Parliamentary Question from the hon. Member eventually to obtain this reply; and whether he will in future expedite his replies to Members of Parliaments' correspondence.
§ Mr. CarlisleThere was no undue delay in this case, having regard to the need to verify the facts and to ascertain whether the prisoner had suffered any injustice.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why it took him until 11th January, 1971, to reply to the communication sent to him by the hon. Member for West Ham, North, regarding bravery of West Ham school boys, when his reply contained only a paragraph and rephrasing of the information sent to him by the hon. Member; what information as contained in his reply was not available to him and his Department within 24 hours of receipt of this communication; and whether he will expedite replies to correspondence.
§ Mr. SharplesAll proposals for the recognition of brave conduct are examined with great care. There was no unreasonable delay in considering and replying to the hon. Member's letter.