§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why a letter sent to him on 10 March by the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds about the taxation of charities received no reply for 13 weeks; and if he will take steps to ensure that the responses of Treasury Ministers to written inquiries from hon. Members are only in the most exceptional circumstances delayed for more than three or four weeks.
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweI am sorry that my hon. Friend had to wait so long for a reply. Treasury Ministers do try to reply to inquiries as quickly as possible, but it is not always possible to do so within the time suggested.