§ 9. Mr. ROCHasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he can give the names of the members of the Committee, over which he presides, appointed to consider the question of venereal disease; if he can give the terms of reference to this 1105 Committee; if he can state, in particular, if it is open to this Committee to consider the repeal of the Contagious Diseases Acts; and whether the Report of this Committee and the evidence given before it will be published?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI would refer my hon. Friend to my answer to the hon. Member for Northants on 25th June, when I gave the names of the Committee. There are no terms of reference. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.
§ Sir J. D. REESIs the Committee which is to report on the Criminal Law Amendment Bill to report whether the Bill is to be proceeded with or to proceed with the Bill?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe Committee reporting on the Criminal Law Amendment Bill is a Joint Committee of both Houses. The Committee to which my hon. Friend the Member for Pembroke (Mr. Roch) refers is an informal Committee, over which I preside in the War Office and which includes representatives of almost all the Allies, to see how best we can combat venereal disease in the Army.
§ Mr. ROCHDid my right hon. Friend give all the names of the Committee? Did he not omit to give the names of members of religious denominations?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI do not think so, but I am quite willing to give the names—the Archbishop of Canterbury, Cardinal Bourne or Bishop Bidwell, Dr. Myer or Professor Garvie.