§ Lord Stoddart of Swindonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they intend to reply to a letter sent by the Lord Stoddart of Swindon to the right honourable Stephen Byers, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, on 19 May (reminder sent 13 July); if so, when; and if not, why not. [HL4170]
§ The Minister for Science, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville)As the noble Lord is aware, the right honourable Stephen Byers, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, replied to his letter of the 19 May on the 21 October. May I take this opportunity to apologise to Lord Stoddart for the unacceptable delay in the reply to the said letter, which was caused by an oversight within the Department of Trade and Industry in its communication with the Office of Fair Trading.