HC Deb 17 July 1934 vol 292 cc930-1
21. Mr. GEORGE HALL

asked the Minister of Labour the name of the distressed area from which the report of the commissioner has been received; and will he state whether the Government has now considered the report and if it is proposed to take action upon it?

The MINISTER of LABOUR (Mr. Oliver Stanley)

The reports are given detailed consideration immediately on receipt, but, as the areas under investigation have many common features, it is not possible to come to any final decision until after the problem has been considered as a whole in the light of all the reports. I do not think any useful purpose would be served by stating which reports have or have not yet been received, but I can assure the hon. Member there will be no avoidable delay.

Mr. HALL

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how many reports have been received?

Mr. STANLEY

I think there would be an obvious disadvantage in discussing this question. All the investigators are aware of the great urgency of this matter, but naturally we want to make certain that their reports are as full and complete as possible. It might put a commissioner in a difficult position if the fact were published that all the other reports had been received, when, for some reason outside' his control, he had not been able to make his report.

Mr. D. GRENFELL

Will the right hon. Gentleman inform the House when we are likely to have an opportunity of knowing the reports and of discussing their contents in this House?

Mr. STANLEY

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to answers already given in this House about publication of the reports.

Mr. LAWSON

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that there was no thought in any way that the Government were going to let this matter drift until next Session before there was any action taken upon it; and cannot the Government give an opportunity for the discussion of this matter?

Mr. STANLEY

I cannot answer as to what was thought, but I can assure the hon. Gentleman that there is no question of this matter being allowed to drift. We are treating it as a matter of great urgency.

Mr. LAWSON

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, if there is nothing done before the House rises, it will really be next spring before anything is done at all?

Mr. STANLEY

I do not agree with that opinion at all.

Mr. LAWSON

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the House apparently will not have an opportunity of discussing this matter before November next, and that, if that be so, it will be well on to spring before anything is done at all?

Mr. DICKIE

In the event of the reports being received before the House rises with a day or two to spare, cannot the Minister give an undertaking that we shall be given an opportunity of discussing the matter?

Mr. STANLEY

The hon. Member must be aware that it has already been stated in this House that the reports are not going to be published.

Mr. DICKIE

There cannot be anything in the reports which the Members for the distressed areas do not know, so that I cannot see why there is any reason that the reports should not be published.