asked the Minister for the Environment the reason replies to queries issuing from his Department which were typed in February 1980 were re-dated 28 April and delivered on 1 May, and if he will make a statement on the matter.

A letter from the Housing Grants Section of my Department addressed to the Deputy was typed in February 1980 but not issued until 28 April 1980. The delay in issuing the letter arose from the huge volume of grant applications and correspondence being processed in the section at that time.

Have I got to go back and tell my constituents that a typist typed a letter in February but nobody could post it until 28 April?

Owing to the very heavy volume of correspondence it was——

The Minister is joking.

There was a very heavy volume of correspondence.

The Senior Minister did all this work last year on his own.

Deputy Harte should resume his seat while the Minister is answering.

Would the Minister answer?

I admit there was a delay. I am honest enough to say that. It was due the huge volume of applications received. If anybody writes in to me now, there is delay of three days only.

That is not the point.

I regret the delay but nothing personal was involved.

I acknowledge that there was never anything personal between the Junior Minister and myself and I hope there never will be. This does not excuse the fact that a letter was dictated in January, typed in February and not posted to me until 28 April.

I have admitted that and apologised.

How many other letters were involved? Quite a few?