§ 46. Captain P. MACDONALDasked the Prime Minister whether the report of the sub-committee of the Economic Advisory Council on the iron and steel industry will be made available to the public?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIt is not possible for me to say whether this report will be published until His Majesty's Government have had an opportunity of studying it.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLWhat conceivable reason in principle can there be against the publication of the report upon this economic question, in which there is great interest taken by all parties?
§ The PRIME MINISTERJust the reason that the right hon. Gentleman must be acquainted with, that these reports are primarily private. Exceptions have been made with regard to publication. We are perfectly willing to make that exception if the report is of such a nature as to allow it, but until we see the report we cannot say what will be done with it.
§ Captain MACDONALDWill the right hon. Gentleman undertake to publish the report, whether the Government intend to act on its recommendations or not?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI can assure the hon. and gallant Member that that will not be one of the considerations. It will depend on the nature of the report itself.
§ The PRIME MINISTERWe have expedited it as much as possible.