§ Mr. Moateasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will specify what requests have been sent by his Depart- 180W ment or its predecessors to hon. Members suggesting that inquiries, and conflicts relating to matters dealt with by the Swansea Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre should be sent direct to public servants of the centre rather than to Ministers; and what is the total number of inquiries and complaints that have been dealt with under these arrangements.
§ Mr. HoramThis facility was, I understand, first announced by the hon. Membe for Ashford (Mr. Speed) in February 1974. My hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Kelvingrove (Mr. Carmichael) referred to it in a letter to hon. Members of April 1974. Further letters, principally advising changes amongst the officials concerned and once an extension of the service, were sent to hon. Members in July 1975, January 1976 and July 1976. My right hon. Friend and I have from time to time referred to these arrangements in individual letters to hon. Members.
The facility is intended only to deal with straight-forward inquiries and to supplement the nomal arrangements for hon Members' correspondence: naturally my right hon. Friend and I are always willing to pursue inquiries, whether general or specific where this is preferred.