HC Deb 26 February 1930 vol 235 cc2232-3
46. Mr. SHAKESPEARE

asked the Prime Minister, whether he intends to publish the memorandum on unemployment submitted to him by the First Commissioner of Works, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and the Under-Secretary of State for Scotland.

The PRIME MINISTER

No, Sir.

Mr. SHAKESPEARE

May we know whether this influential triumvirate have been converted to the Liberal solution for attacking unemployment?

Mr. A. M. SAMUEL

If this memorandum is likely to help unemployment, what good purpose is served by keeping it secret?

The PRIME MINISTER

The reason why Cabinets have secret documents, is that, if there were no secret documents, Cabinets would never do their work at all.

Mr. SAMUEL

While I do not contest that view, is this a document which can of necessity be called secret? We want to help the unemployed. Why cannot the right hon. Gentleman give us this document, which is better than the policy of the Lord Privy Seal?

Sir KINGSLEY WOOD

Has not the right hon. Gentleman discovered who gave this information concerning Cabinet secrets to the public Press?

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