§ 47. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Prime Minister how many printed papers are, on the average, circulated to the Cabinet each week; whether any system of marking that will indicate the relative importance of such papers is used; and what steps are taken to ensure that all members of the Cabinet read such papers?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI can add nothing to what I have already said in reply to questions on this subject.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYCannot the right hon. Gentleman consider taking some steps to ensure that important documents are read by Ministers? Has he considered the forming of a list of Ministers and each Minister being compelled to sign that he has read such and such a document, as is done in the Army and Navy every day?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIf it be done in the Army and Navy, the number of documents cannot be so large. I know of no means of discipline by which I, or any other Prime Minister, can compel Ministers to read any document.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWhy cannot the right hon. Gentleman give some idea of the number of printed papers circulated every week? Are they 20 or 10 or any other number?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI do not think that this is the place for a question which is entirely confined to the Cabinet to be dealt with in this kind of way.