§ 38. Mr. NEIL MACLEANasked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health whether it is the intention of the Scottish Board of Health to publish the Report of the Joint Committee set up in 1920 and composed of representatives from the Consultative Committee on 1258 Local Health Administration and General Health Questions and the Consultative Committee on National Health Insurance (Approved Societies' Work) to consider and report on the interrelation of maternity benefit under the Insurance Act and the maternity and child welfare schemes of local authorities; and, if so, when?
§ Captain ELLIOTIt is not proposed to publish this Report.
§ Mr. MACLEANIs it not the case that when this Committee was set up it was the intention of the Government to publish the Report, which is in the hands of the Government and contains useful information? Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman not see his way to publish the Report?
§ Mr. RHYS DAVIESWill the hon. and gallant Gentleman see that no preference is given to Scotland over England?
§ Captain ELLIOTThese questions give an example of the trouble we are in. There is expense connected with the publication of these Reports, and it was not considered that the advantages would outweigh the disadvantages of this expenditure.
§ Mr. MACLEANWas it not the intention of the Government, when this Committee was set up originally to make public any Report? Why is the Government not going to implement their promise?
§ Captain ELLIOTIt is the intention of the Government, if possible, to publish, for the public advantage, any report which may justify the expenditure of public money on it. It was thought, after consideration of this Report, that the advantage would not outweigh the disadvantage of the expense.