§ 21. Mr. J. GUESTasked the Minister of Pensions if he has now received a copy of the letter, sent to the chairmen of the war pensions committees in the Yorkshire region by the regional director, stating that, owing to reports of these committees' discussions getting into the Press, it had now been decided that war pensions, general purposes, and children's committees should sit in private session; and if he will now state what action he proposes to take in the matter?
§ Major TRYONYes, Sir. In the communication in question the restriction of publicity was expressly limited to the discussion of individual cases and, as I intimated to the hon. Member last Thursday, I fully approve of the procedure.
§ Mr. GUESTIf there has been no alteration, as the right hon. Gentleman's answer implies, why are the British Legion protesting vigorously against this innovation; and will the right hon. Gentleman explain why the pensioners themselves, in whose interests the letter is supposed to have been sent, are also vigorously denouncing it?
§ Major TRYONI think there may have been some misunderstanding. My impression is that everybody is agreed there ought to be a public discussion of general but that in individual eases details ought not to he published, in the interests of the applicant.
§ Mr. LAWSONOught not the local committee itself to have the power to decide whether a discussion shall be public or private. If they have not that power, what power have they?
§ Major TRYONI entirely agree that the local committee ought to have the full right to publish its discussions, but I do not think it should have a right to publish full details of individual cases, which might cause great pain to the families concerned.
§ Mr. LAWSONis it the fact that the regional director simply orders the local committee what to do? Cannot he leave it the right to decide this matter for itself?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat question has been already answered.