HC Deb 16 November 1936 vol 317 cc1325-7
44. Mr. BATEY

asked the Minister of Labour whether the report made by the experts of the Ministry of Health, mentioned in paragraph 146 of the recent report of the Commissioner for the Special Areas, can be made available to Members of this House?

Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEAD

Departmental reports of this nature are normally regarded as confidential, and it is not proposed to make an exception in this case.

Mr. BATEY

This is a report dealing with public works in distressed areas. Why should not Members be allowed to see it? Will the Minister lay a copy in the Library?

Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEAD

I cannot add anything to my answer. These are Departmental inquiries which are required for certain purposes. There is no obligation to publish the report.

Mr. HARDIE

Would publication of any of these reports do any harm to what the Government intend to do?

Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEAD

I do not think I am required to answer that question.

Mr. SHINWELL

Is there some information in the possession of the Government which it is not desirable to communicate to Members of the House?

Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEAD

There is a good deal of information in the possession of any Government which is not made public for good reasons.

46 Mr. MABANE

asked the Prime Minister (1) whether it is intended in the near future to take powers to control the location of industry in the manner suggested in Cmd. 5303, or in any other manner;

(2) whether his attention has been called to the suggestion made in Cmd. 5303 that, whereas agriculture has in recent years been accorded preferential treatment in a lavish manner, the Special Areas have received no comparable preferential treatment; whether he accepts the comparison as just; and, if so, what immediate action he will take to redress the balance;

(3) whether it is intended to propose further preferential treatment for new industries located in the Special Areas in the manner suggested in Cmd. 5303, or in any other manner?

The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Baldwin)

This is not a matter which can be dealt with by question and answer. Perhaps my hon. Friend will await the discussion which will take place in the near future.

52. Mr. BATEY

asked the Minister of Labour whether the Commissioner for the Special Areas has received the report mentioned in paragraph 145 of the recent report; and will its contents be circulated to Members of this House?

Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEAD

The Commissioner for the Special Areas has now received the report to which the hon. Member refers, and he proposes to consult. the South-West Durham Development Board, but it is not intended that a confidential report of this nature should be published.

Mr. BATEY

Here is a report which deals with industrial development which is of interest to every Member of this House, and surely we ought to be able to see it.

Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEAD

Exactly the same remarks which I made in answer to the last question apply to this question.

Mr. SHINWELL

Why is there this profound secrecy in matters that intimately concern the Special Areas?

Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEAD

There is no particular secrecy about this matter, and there is nothing unsatisfactory about the nature of these reports. It is a perfectly common thing when confidential reports pass between one Department and another for there to be no necessity for them to be made public.

Mr. SHINWELL

Can we take it that, if the hon. Member approaches the hon. and gallant Gentleman in this matter, he will himself be placed in possession of the facts in confidence?

Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEAD

No, the hon. Member must not assume anything of the kind.