§ Mr. Freesonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply to the right hon. Member for Brent, East on 28 July, what is the practice of his Department with regard to the handling and circulation of all categories of confidential correspondence between senior civil servants in his Department and local authority officers.
§ Mr. HeseltineCorrespondence received by the Department, whether from local authorities or others is not normally made generally available except with the consent of the sender. The Department does not regard letters it sends as confidential unless an indication to this effect is given.