HC Deb 25 May 1978 vol 950 c658W
36. Mr. Arthur Latham

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he and his Department took until 18th May to reply to the letter sent by the hon. Member for Paddington on 24th April concerning the position of the London borough of Havering Council following the death of one of the candidates in the Gooshays Ward; what notice was taken of a message concerning the urgency of this matter; and what steps are required in order to elicit a prompt reply from his Department.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

We aim to reply to all letters from hon. Members as quickly as possible. My hon. Friend's letter of 24th April sought a second opinion on the legal advice his correspondent had received from the chief executive of the London borough of Havering. I am sorry that we were not able to reply until 17th May, but the point raised, as my hon. Friend himself said, some interesting arguments and needed to be carefully thought about before we replied.