§ Q12. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that it takes eight to 12 weeks for Ministers to reply to Members' letters; whether he will arrange for all Ministers to acknowledge letters within 10 days of receipt and if a substantive reply cannot be sent within six weeks, for an interim letter of explanation to be sent; and whether he will take action to improve the present manner in which correspondence is dealt with.
§ The Prime MinisterAs far as possible Departments already try to ensure that hon. Members' letters are acknowledged and that, where a substantive reply cannot be made within a reasonable period, interim replies are sent. I am, however, arranging for Departments to be reminded of the need to ensure that hon. Members receive replies with as much dispatch as possible, although I do not consider that it would be useful to lay down rigid time limits. In cases of unnecessary delay, I would ask hon. Members to take up the matter with the Minister in charge of the Department concerned.