HC Deb 27 June 1932 vol 267 cc1472-3
45. Captain P. MACDONALD

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the desirability of affording Members facilities for obtaining the fullest pos- sible data with regard to economy, he will consider the desirability of issuing either for public or private circulation the evidence given before the Committee on National Expenditure?

Mr. BALDWIN

As the Committee on National Expenditure did not submit to the Chancellor of the Exchequer any minutes of evidence along with their report, the question of issuing the minutes does not, arise.

Captain MACDONALD

Are not these minutes available?

Mr. BALDWIN

Perhaps my hon. and gallant Friend will remember that, as in the case of the Geddes Committee, so in the case of the May Committee, no minutes of evidence were submitted with their report. As was announced by Lord Snowden when he was Chancellor of the Exchequer, much of the evidence submitted to these committees must be regarded as confidential, and therefore I can hold out no hope that it will be published.

58. Captain NORTH

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the Committee on National Expenditure received evidence with regard to the possible economy which might be achieved through a Ministry of Defence from any persons other than members of the fighting services and the secretary of the Committee of Imperial Defence; and whether the evidence obtained by the committee on this subject can be made public?

The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Major Elliot)

The Committee on National Expenditure arranged their own procedure and I am not in a position to state what steps (beyond those mentioned in their report) the committee took in this direction. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which has been given by the Leader of the House this afternoon to a question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for the Isle of Wight (Captain P. Macdonald).