Prompt statement of deferral all ignored (2,4,4)
I believe the answer is:
in good time
If this is the answer I cannot explain how the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for in good time that I've seen before include "Without risk of being late" , "Certainly not late" , "How the drummer should play" , "Quickly" , "Quite early enough" .)