asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why his Department took six weeks to reply to a letter from the hon. Member for Glasgow, Govan on the health workers' pay claim, written during the Summer Adjournment; and if he will take steps to speed up replies to such correspondence from hon. Members.

I have not received any correspondence from the hon. Member about the health workers' pay claim. I did receive two letters about the proposed closure of the department of dermatology at the Southern general hospital, Glasgow, and I have already apologised to the hon. Member for the delay in replying to these letters. As the hon. Member is aware from my reply to him, I had arranged a meeting with Greater Glasgow health board to discuss its financial situation. I postponed a reply until after that meeting. Every effort k already made both by myself and the Departments for which I am responsible to provide prompt replies to the correspondence of hon. Members.