§ 12. Mr. GRAHAM WHITEasked the Secretary of State for India if he is now in a position to state the price at which the Report of the Simon Commission will be published?
§ Mr. WHITEIn view of the great importance of this report, would it not be possible to give further consideration to this matter; and will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the precedent of the report of the Samuel Commission on the coal industry?
§ Mr. BENNAs the hon. Member no doubt knows, that is a matter for negotiation between the Indian Government and the Treasury. The Indian Government has already made a substantial contribution with a view to making the report available to the public at a price lower than commercial considerations would demand.
§ Mr. McSHANEIs our Government also making a substantial contribution?
Earl WINTERTONIn view of the immense importance of having this report published at a price which the public can 784 afford to pay, will the right hon. Gentleman give further consideration to this matter; and will he, particularly, bear in mind what has been said by the hon. Member for East Birkenhead (Mr. White) as to the precedent of the Samuel Report?
§ Mr. BENNIf the Noble Lord will put a question on the Paper in that sense, I will see that it is considered by the Departments concerned.
§ Mr. FREEMANWould not the publication of a summary of the report meet the difficulty and be of great advantage?
§ Mr. BENNI have answered a question on that point. It is really a matter primarily for the Commission who have been extremely hard-worked in getting their report finished.