§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what factors governed the timing of the substantive reply on 6 February to a question from the hon. Member for Newham, North-West about expenditure by London boroughs to which a holding reply had been given on 5 February, Official Report, column 774.
§ Mr. ChopeIn trying to answer the hon. Member's previous question I authorised my officials to investigate all possible sources of the information sought. This was not completed to my satisfaction in time for a substantive reply to be given on 5 February and I therefore gave a holding reply. Shortly afterwards it became apparent that I would be unable to provide the required figures and so I issued my substantive reply at the earliest opportunity.