§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why she has not replied to a letter addressed to her by Mrs. D. E. Perry, 21 Wake Avenue, Mildenhall, a widow, on social security matters; why her Parliamentary Secretary took nearly four months to respond to the official representations made on Mrs. Perry's behalf by the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds; and if she will take steps to avoid further delays in correspondence from hon. Members.
§ Mr. MeacherWe cannot trace the letter which the hon. Member says was sent to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State by his constituent. The hon. Member will know that an interim reply was sent to him on 24th April, and a visit was made to his constituent on 8th May in order to clear fully to her satisfaction the various points she had raised. I am sorry that there was undue delay thereafter in letting the hon. Member know the position in Mrs. Perry's case. Despite the Department's very heavy correspondence on social security matters, I shall continue to try to ensure that replies are sent as quickly as is compatible with undertaking the comprehensive investigation of individual cases that is often necessary.