§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what dates he requested information from the chief constables of Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire concerning the letters of 3 April and 20 April sent to him by the hon. Member for Wentworth and referred to in the answers to written questions 23, 24 and 25 of 21 June.
§ Mr. HurdBecause of the very large number of letters from Members of Parliament about policing in Nottinghamshire, officials in the Department were concerned to minimise the burden on the Nottinghamshire constabulary by asking for reports which would so far as possible cover related or similar cases in a single report. I am sorry that because of the pressures of work falling on those concerned as a result of the policing of the miners' dispute such a report was not sought sooner on the matters raised by the hon. Member; but in view of his earlier questions a special report was sought from the Chief Constable on 18 June.
§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to his answer to written question 35 on Thursday 21 June, on what date he asked the chief constable of Nottinghamshire for the information needed to enable him to reply to the letter of 21 March from the hon. Member for Wentworth; whether he asked for the information by a particular date; and if he will now take steps to ensure that the information is provided.
§ Mr. HurdIn another answer given today to the hon. Gentleman I have explained the approach adopted by the Department in obtaining information from the chief constable of Nottinghamshire in response to the considerable number of letters which we have received. In respect of the letter of 21 March from the hon. Member, a letter was sent to the chief constable on 18 June. That did not ask for a report by a particular date. The report is expected shortly and, as soon as I have received and considered it, I will reply to the hon. Member's letter.
§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has caused the delays in his replies to letters sent to him in March and early April from the hon. Member for Wentworth.
§ Mr. HurdThose concerned have been under heavy pressure as a result of work relating to policing the miners' dispute. It is important that letters from hon. Members about particular incidents should be handled as promptly as possible and I regret the delay in these cases.
§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that letters from hon. Members concerning the current coal industry dispute secure full responses in a shorter period of time than has been taken for those letters sent to him in March and April.