HC Deb 04 July 1973 vol 859 cc159-60W
Mr. Michael Cocks

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why a copy of Mr. C. Taylor's telegram on the South Western Hospital Board inquiry to the Secretary of State was not supplied to the hon. Member for Bristol, South until the hon. Member had make a second telephone call four days after the original request.

Sir K. Joseph

At the time of the hon. Member's original telephone call, the papers relating to Mr. Taylor's complaint were already under consideration; but through an oversight the request was not attended to as promptly as I would have wished. Immediately on receipt of the second request a copy of the telegram was despatched to the hon. Member by hand.

Mr. Michael Cocks

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why he considers it necessary to await a transcript of evidence of the inquiry into the case of Mr. C. Taylor, 6 Agate Street, Bristol 3 before replying to a query confined to a matter of jurisdiction.

Sir K. Joseph

Mr. Taylor's query was not received in time to be dealt with before the inquiry had been completed. It was therefore decided that the question of alleged irregularities in the setting up of the inquiry could best be dealt with after the transcript of the proceedings was available. The report is expected within the next two weeks and a reply will then be sent as soon as possible.