Andrew Griffith (Arundel and South Downs) (Con)
On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. I wrote to the Chancellor on behalf of a constituent on 10 December last year; I followed that up on 6 January and 20 January, but on each occasion I received no substantive reply. It was only when I tabled a written question that Ministers finally informed me that my correspondence had been passed to HM Revenue and Customs. They told me three weeks ago that they would reply by 11 February, yet they have not done so, nor have they written to me.
It has been more than two months since I first raised the matter with the Chancellor. I have no answer for my constituent. Can you advise me, Madam Deputy Speaker, on what further avenues there are to ensure that this Government treat Members of this House properly?
Madam Deputy Speaker (Ms Nusrat Ghani)
I thank the hon. Member for notice of his point of order. It is important that Members receive timely answers from the Government to such correspondence. No doubt those on the Treasury Bench are listening. It is not a matter for the Chair, but I am sure that those on the Treasury Bench will have noticed not only the hon. Member’s concerns but those of other Members about slow correspondence, and no doubt they will pass on his remarks. He may also wish to consult the Table Office about other steps that he can take if he so chooses.
Bill Presented
Representation of the People Bill
Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)
Secretary Steve Reed, supported by the Prime Minister, Darren Jones, Secretary Liz Kendall, Secretary Lisa Nandy, Dan Jarvis, Samantha Dixon, Chris Ward and Josh Simons, presented a Bill to make provision extending the right to vote to 16 and 17 year olds; to make provision about the registration of voters; to make provision about the administration and conduct of elections, referendums and recall petitions; to make provision about election agents’ addresses; to make provision about political expenditure and political donations; to make provision about information to be included in electronic campaigning material; to make provision about offences and civil sanctions in connection with elections, referendums and recall petitions and with donations and expenditure for political purposes; to make provision about the disclosure of information by the Electoral Commission; to make provision about the disqualification of offenders for holding elective offices, and their sentencing, where offences are aggravated by hostility towards persons involved in elections, referendums or recall petitions or holders of such offices; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Monday 23 February, and to be printed (Bill 384) with explanatory notes (Bill 384-EN).