§ Mr. Lomasasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why she will not have printed in the Official Report the answer to the hon. Member for Huddersfield, West on Wednesday 26th July; and if she will take immediate steps to do so.
§ Mr. OakesMinisters in my Department do from time to time receive deputations which have not been specifically sponsored by their Member of Parliament on local matters. Recently a deputation from my hon. Friend's constituency was so received by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State. She understood that my hon. Friend was fuly cognisant of the circumstances of the meeting and consented to its taking place and no indication to the contrary was received until the morning of the meeting. By that time the delegation was on its way to the Department and to cancel the meeting would have caused inconvenience and disappointment. I apologise to my hon. Friend if any misunderstanding arose or for any concern that he has been caused. A report of the meeting has of course been sent to him. That is the substance of the letter sent to him on 28th July 1978.