§ 90. Mr. JOHNasked the Minister of Health whether he has received a Report from his chief inspector as to the result of his investigation into the condition of the mining areas in South Wales; whether the Report will be available for Members of Parliament; and whether he is now in a position to inform the House as to his intentions towards relieving the distress?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Sir Kingsley Wood)The reply to the first part of the question is in the negative. It is not the practice that reports of this kind should be published, but my right hon. Friend will consider later on whether any exception should be made in this case. As regards the last part of the question, my right hon. Friend is not able to add anything to the statements made by the Prime Minister last night.
§ Mr. PALINGDoes this mean that in cases of acute distress it is to be left to private charity to relieve them?
§ Sir K. WOODThe hon. Member must not assume that. I would ask him to refer to the Prime Minister's statement.
§ Mr. PALINGIs it not a fact that time after time the Minister has refused to let able-bodied men have anything from the guardians? Does not the Parliamentary Secretary's answer indicate that they are going to trust to private charity?
§ Sir K. WOODNo, the hon. Member must take my answer as I read it.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that in the last Ministry of Health Report, the Minister actually compliments guardians who refuse to give relief to the unemployed?
§ Sir K. WOODThe hon. Member is now raising a question of the Report of the Ministry which is not referred to in the question.