§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the reasons for the delay in replying 49W to the letter sent to him on 16 June regarding the rules on immigration raised by his constituent Mr. A. Din; what action he took following a parliamentary question by the hon. Member on this matter tabled on 8 July which enabled him to give an immediate answer to the letter; and what difference in priority is given by his Department as between letters from hon. Members and parliamentary questions.
§ Mr. WhitelawI do not consider that the time taken to reply to the hon. Member's letter of 16 July was at all unreasonable. A reply was about to be sent to the hon. Member when he tabled his question on 8 July and no special action was taken to expedite the reply.
On average, hon. Members send nearly 2,000 letters a month to my Department, over half being on immigration and nationality matters. It is my wish that replies should be sent as quickly as practicable in all cases. Parliamentary questions are answered in accordance with the time limits recommended by the Select Committee on parliamentary questions 1972 (HC393) and agreed by the House on 18 December 1972.—[Vol. 848, c. 1070.]