HC Deb 25 January 1937 vol 319 cc579-80
71. Sir A. Wilson

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what would be the cost of printing the minutes of evidence hitherto taken before the Royal Commission on Local Government in the Tyneside area; and whether, in view of its bearing upon the treatment of this special area, he will consider making it available in print for the public and for Members of this House, in view of its great bulk in the form in which it is at present available in the Library?

Lieut.-Colonel Colville

The cost of printing this evidence would be £800. In printed form it would make a foolscap folio volume of 600 pages and it is unlikely that any material portion of the cost would be recovered from sales. I regret, therefore, that I cannot accept my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion.

Sir A. Wilson

Will my hon. and gallant Friend bear in mind that the evidence collected will have a very direct bearing on the whole question of the Special Areas, which will shortly be under review? Will he consider making possible the publication of a summary of the evidence?

Lieut.-Colonel Colville

I cannot give that undertaking. I took the question carefully into review on seeing my hon. Friend's question. It would cost too much.

Mr. Ede

Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman bear in mind that this matter may give rise to very acute controversies between a number of local authorities, and that it will be necessary to be able to refer to the evidence in the course of those controversies?