§ Mr. David YoungTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many communications he has received from Members of the European Parliament since 18 June 1989 that concern local or United Kingdom matters; and if he will make it his practice where such matters are involved to provide the hon. Member for the local constituency with a copy of the correspondence and the reply for information.
§ Mr. FreemanWe have had 30 such letters. Where Members of the European Parliament raise matters in correspondence which are exclusively of local interest, the practice should be to reply suggesting that the MEP should refer the matter to the hon. Member for the constituency concerned. As with other correspondence, replies to such communications would normally be copied to the hon. Member concerned only if the MEP had himself copied his letter in this way.