HC Deb 09 December 1919 vol 122 cc1125-6
50. Brigadier-General CROFT

asked the Prime Minister whether witnesses who have applied to the secretary of the Industrial Insurance Committee of Inquiry to give evidence before that Committee have in several cases been given no reply; whether it is proposed to refuse to hear witnesses making such applications; if so, on what grounds; whether intending witnesses are entitled to a reply from the secretary of the Committee; and, failing a reply, what steps ought they to take in the matter?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Bridge-man)

I have been asked to answer this question. I am not aware of any case in which no reply has been sent, but if the hon. and gallant Member has any information on the subject I shall be grateful if he will communicate it to me. The examination of witnesses by the Committee appointed to inquire into industrial life assurance has already occupied twelve days, and I am informed that the evidence obtained has dealt with typical cases of hardship and that the Committee have decided that they cannot consider all individual cases to which their information has been drawn. Any communication addressed to the secretary will be brought before the Committee, and it will be for the Committee to decide whether it is necessary to hear further evidence.

Brigadier-General CROFT

Is he aware that very few cases have been gone into at all—perhaps a hundred out of thousands?

Mr. BRIDGEMAN

It depends on what the hon. and gallant Gentleman means by "very few." I think a sufficient number of cases typical of a great number of others have been examined, but I shall be glad, if my hon. and gallant Friend has any cases in mind, if he will put them before the Committee.