§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why, in view of the contents of the communication dated 8th April from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, complaining of neglect and failure upon the part of his Department to deal expeditiously with Members' of Parliament's correspondence, it took him until 23rd April to send a formal reply to this communication.
§ Mr. AlisonThe hon. Member's letter of 8th April referred to efforts which had been made over a considerable period to secure the most appropriate placement for the son of one of his constituents, and included a complaint that he had not been informed when a transfer to another hospital was arranged. The transfer arrangements, as is usual, had been made locally. Inquiries had, therefore, to be made of the hospital authority and careful study given to the hon. Member's letter. A reply was sent nine days after its receipt: the reply would have been sent earlier but for the hon. Member's telephone request for copies of earlier correspondence.