asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the reason he instructed the Secretary of his Department that in future he may not reply to any representations made by Deputies other than ex-Ministers or ex-Ministers of State of his Department, and if he is prepared to withdraw this instruction.
Written Answers. - Replies to Representations.
349.
The arrangements for answering correspondence received by the Department are a matter for the Minister to determine. These arrangements are reviewed from time to time to ensure that they are as effective as possible. Following a recent review it was decided, particularly in the light of the impending major reorganisation of Post Office services on the establishing of the two new boards and in the interests of giving a better service to Deputies generally, that all correspondence from Deputies, other than from previous Ministers and Ministers of State in the Department should be replied to by the Minister. I might add that this is not the first time in which arrangements broadly on these lines were made. I believe the new arrangements will be more effective than the previous ones and I do not propose therefore to alter them at present. They will, of course, be kept under review.