§ 38. Mr. LANSBURYasked the Minister of Health whether he will lay upon the Table of the House a copy of the Report presented to him by his inspector and medical officer who recently visited the South Wales distressed areas on his instructions, as reported to the House before the Recess, in order to investigate and report on the social and economic conditions prevailing in such areas; and will he state what conclusions these officials arrived at and what proposals they made for dealing with distress arising from unemployment and other causes?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI propose to lay this Report on the Table of the House at an early date. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the Report itself.
§ Mr. LANSBURYWould it not be possible for the Minister of Health to give us at least a final summary of the Report?
§ Mr. LANSBURYI mean to-day. That is rather important in view of the answer which the right hon. Gentleman has just given.
§ Mr. LANSBURYDoes the Report state that distress prevails in the districts visited by the inspector and the medical officer, and what is their view of the relief that should be given?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI think we knew before that there was distress in that district. I cannot answer as to what measures they propose.
§ Mr. LANSBURYPrevious to the Adjournment, the right hon. Gentleman informed the House that he was sending these officials specially to investigate this question. [HON. MEMBERS: 1933 "Speech!"] The question I want to put is a perfectly simple one. The Minister of Health, in response to a discussion previous to the Recess, sent these gentlemen to South Wales to inquire whether distress prevailed, and I wish to know whether they have reported that the distress has been adequately dealt with under the Regulations of the Ministry of Health?
§ Mr. LANSBURY rose—
§ Mr. SPEAKERI think the hon. Gentleman had better await the Report.
§ Mr. LANSBURYI want to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, if I put down a question, be will be good enough to give the House the conclusions arrived at by these gentlemen, which are of some importance to the people concerned?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI really cannot answer that question without seeing what the hon. Gentleman's question is.
§ Mr. LANSBURYYou are much too clever—
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI have already told the hon. Gentleman that I cannot summarise the conclusions in answer to a question. I shall lay the whole Report on the Table at an early date.