§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Prime Minister, in the light of the fact that most Departments are now taking between four and five weeks to send interim replies and as long as three months for full replies to hon. Members, when their letters raise matters where the answers are known and readily available but constituents wish for a ministerial reply, whether she will request the Rayner committee to investigate the lack of efficiency and work rate of the Civil Service.
§ The Prime MinisterI doubt that an inquiry into this subject would be profitable, but I hope that the hon. Member will bring to the attention of the Ministers concerned any examples of excessive delay in dealing with correspondence. My colleagues674W all recognise the need to answer letters from hon. Members as expeditiously as possible.