§ 30. Mr. HANNONasked the Minister of Health whether, with regard to the fact that his Department has issued an official statement to the Press setting forth that, out of 625 unions in England and Wales, 64 were inefficiently administered, and including Birmingham in the list of the 64 unions so described, he will state his reasons for this inclusion of Birmingham?
§ 37. Mr. BROADasked the Minister of Health with regard to the official statement that it is his intention to supersede the some 64 elected boards of guardians and replace them by persons appointed by himself and naming the Edmonton Board of Guardians as one of those to be so treated, whether be has had occasion to take exception to the manner in which the Edmonton Board of Guardians has carried out its duties, and what response has been made by that body; and, if no such representations have been made, will he first inform the board in what way they have been remiss before he takes the action indicated?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI will answer these questions together. No such state meat as is quoted has been issued by anybody representing or acting on behalf of or with the authority of my Department, nor does the statement referred to in any way represent my views. In these circumstances, the other questions do not arise.
§ Mr. HANNONHas my right hon. Friend any means of preventing statements of this kind being made in newspapers about the best administered city in the world?
§ Mr. R. MORRISONHas the right hon. Gentleman any idea as to how that particular list of specific boards of guardians got into the Press?
§ Mr. PALINGDoes the right hon. Gentleman think that this is a fit subject for investigation?
§ Mr. SPEAKERMinisters cannot control the newspapers.