§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Employment why, after giving an undertaking in a letter to the hon. Member for Bassetlaw of 28 May that immediate steps would be taken to bring to an end the delay since 1981 of non-payment of the notice payment 264W under the Employment Act 1978 to Mrs. Morwood of 36 Gibbet Hill Lane, Bawtry, Doncaster, his Department has not yet sent the papers to the receiver.
§ Mr. WaddingtonI very much regret and apologise to Mrs. Morwood for the fact that, although my Department's insolvency payments office at Leeds received the receiver's application for funds on 4 June, the necessary funds were not sent to the receiver until 19 July. I have asked for a full explanation for the delay and of the steps which are to be taken at the office to prevent such delays in future.
The receiver has been asked to pay Mrs. Morwood as quickly as possible.