HC Deb 06 March 1934 vol 286 cc1654-5
59. Mr. H. WILLIAMS

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he can arrange for future issues of the Registrar-General's statistical review to be presented to Parliament as a Command Paper?

Mr. HORE-BELISHA

I am unaware of any reason why a less economical arrangement should apply to the issue of this particular publication than to other non-parliamentary publications.

Mr. WILLIAMS

Is the hon. Member aware that the Minister of Health in answering a question made reference to this document, instead of quoting statistics? In these circumstances, how can hon. Members obtain information if Ministers decline to furnish it and also decline to publish the document?

Mr. HORE-BELISHA

Any hon. Member can obtain a copy on demand. What the hon. Member is asking is that every Member of Parliament should be automatically supplied with this expensive publication.

Mr. WILLIAMS

Is it not a fact that Ministers in answering questions decline to furnish statistics unless those statistics are contained in a paper presented to Parliament?

Mr. HORE-BELISHA

The hon. Member cannot expect me to answer that question. He must address it to the Minister concerned.

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