45. Mr. HOFFMANNasked the Prime Minister when the report of the committee of inquiry into the iron and steel trades will be ready?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Ramsay MacDonald)The report is in the printers' hands, and I expect to receive it in the course of the next few days.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLWill the report be published?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have said over and over again that I cannot answer that question until I have seen it. A very valuable investigation was made into the wages and conditions in Continental steel works. That report I have seen, and I have already given instructions that that part, at any rate, should be published, because it is a most valuable report on the subject.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI presume the main report was conceived with the purpose of being made public, if possible. I mean that the Committee, in drawing It up, have not incorporated minor portions of necessarily confidential information which will invalidate publication. The report has been written with a view to enlightening the country upon the difficulties of the trade?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat is not the case with reports from this committee. The report has been compiled for the purpose of putting all the facts and considerations regarding the facts in possession, first of all, of myself, and of the Cabinet, but, if it is at all possible to publish it, it will be published.