§ Mr. Speedasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of letters to his Department from Members of Parliament is taking four weeks or more to answer; and what were the comparable figures for a year and two years ago.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonEvery effort is made to ensure that replies to Members' letters are provided without undue delay, but in a number of cases papers have to be obtained from local offices throughout the country.
In a sample survey of such letters answered in the first six months of this year, 42 per cent. took 20 working days or longer to answer in full. Comparable information in respect of earlier years would involve a disproportionate expenditure of time and resources.