§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the average time taken by his Department to send a substantive reply to letters sent to him by Members of Parliament; how this average time compares with the times taken to send replies to the communications sent to him by the hon. Member for West Ham, North; and what action he has taken, or intends taking, to expedite replies.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerStatistics of this kind are not readily available, but substantive replies are and will continue to be given as quickly as possible to all letters from hon. Members without discrimination between them.