§ 41. Sir W. DAVISONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can now say when the report relating to the taxation of co-operative societies will be published, and under what circumstances a deputation from the co-operative societies was received by him pending the publication of the report?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAArrangements have been made to present the report as a White Paper, and it will be in the Vote Office this evening. Before submitting the report to the Cabinet for consideration, my right hon. Friend desired to ascertain the views of the co-operative societies on certain points, some of them of a technical character, arising out of the report, and accordingly he invited their representatives to come and see him last Thursday for this purpose.
§ Sir W. DAVISONWill my hon. Friend say whether there is any precedent for a report of a committee of this kind being secretly communicated, before submission to this House and the public, to one of the interested parties; and is he aware that the "Daily Herald" had an article on Friday last stating that they had seen the report and that it was not satisfactory to the cooperative societies?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI should say that there were a great many precedents. The committee was appointed to advise the Government, and it was within the discretion of the Government as to what counsels they should seek before making their plans.
§ Sir BASIL PETOWhy was this opportunity of a conference held out to the co-operative societies while the representatives of private industry were denied any opportunity of stating their Views?
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSWas there any real reason why this White Paper should not have been published before the Rotherham by-election?