But I have had no response from you: just a couple of rather breezy stalling letters from Mrs Thyer. In her last letter she suggested I might get a reply from you by the end of this month. That represents a wait of three times longer than the target response time specified in the Code and, of course, "undue or unexplained delay is likely to attract criticism" (Code Guidance on Interpretation, para 64).

We have been here many times before. If you are not able to respond by the end of the month, please let me know if there is some good reason for the delay. Failing this, I would be sore tempted to try to refer the matter to the Ombudsman. Please bear in mind also that it would be very easy to deluge you with non-vexatious requests: I'll send you a sample tomorrow, to help concentrate the mind.