§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why a letter to him concerning a communication from an individual in Forest Gate E7, to the Parole Board has not been acknowledged or dealt with after six weeks despite the sending of a reminder; and whether he will expedite the replies of mail sent to him and his Department by hon. Members and the taxpayers.
§ Mr. JohnI think that my hon. Friend is referring to a copy of a letter addressed to Parkhurst prison by one of his con-638W stituents which was sent to the Home Office. This was in support of a prisoner whose case is to be considered for parole, and the original of the letter was included in a dossier being prepared at the prison for submission to the Parole Board. Regrettably the copy received in the Home Office was not acknowledged, and further confusion arose when the constituent sent a reminder to the Parole Board which had not then received the parole dossier. The board, after checking with the Home Office, replied that it had not seen the earlier letter. This was an unfortunate error by the Department and we have apologised to my hon. Friend's correspondent.