§ Mr. WinnickTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if it is the practice for an official in his Department to reply to letters from hon. Members. [18675]
Mr. John M. TaylorIt is the practice for either the Lord Chancellor or me to reply substantively to all correspondence from right hon. and hon. Members, save2W where the correspondence concerns a specific operational matter within the responsibilities of an agency, in which case the relevant chief executive will reply. On occasions an official may write direct in advance of a substantive ministerial reply being sent. Typically this would happen in the following cases:
—where further information is required from right hon. or hon. Member to assist with the preparation of a substantive reply; or—if the correspondence is being transferred to another Government Department or an agency; or—when it is anticipated that there will be a delay in a substantive reply.
§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what considerations led to the interval between his receipt of the letter of 21 February from the hon. Member for the South Hams, regarding John Halsey, and his reply of 30 March, with particular reference to the content of the answer. [19400]
Mr. John M. TaylorIt is my normal practice to try to reply to all letters which I receive from hon. Members within one month, unless the letter raises a matter of particular urgency, in which case it is given priority. In this case the reply took a little longer than I would have liked, for which I apologise.