§ 45. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he was first approached by the hon. Member for Newham, North-West about the tax-free cars supplied to civil servants; why on 16th June one of the private secretaries to the Financial Secretary had to write explaining that he could not reply to the hon. Member's letter of 21st April; and in the light of the further letter from the hon. Member dated 18th June, if he will explain how and why this delay has occurred in connection with this matter.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonThere were two letters sent by my hon. Friend on this subject: The first to the Treasury, to which a reply was sent on 5th May, and the second to the Civil Service Department, which was then transferred to the Treasury. A reply to the second letter was sent on 23rd June. Delay occurred as a result of the transmission of correspondence between Departments.