§ 47 and 48. Mr. Neil Macleanasked the Prime Minister (1) whether he is satisfied 863 that all the individuals appointed to serve on the Industrial Population Distribution Royal Commission are fully qualified to deal with an inquiry into the problem of the distribution of the industrial population; and whether he is prepared to reconsider his selection and revise the constitution of the commission;
§ (2) why no woman who would be representative of the industrial population has been appointed to serve on the Industrial Population Distribution Royal Commission; and whether he will take steps to repair this omission?
§ The Prime MinisterThe persons appointed to serve on the Royal Commission have not been chosen as representative of particular interests. It will be open to the commission to take evidence from any interests concerned, and I am satisfied that they are individually well qualified to carry out their task.
§ Mr. MacleanIs it not the case that the two women who are appointed come from London and from Oxfordshire? Is it not essential that a woman coming from some other part of the country more representative of the industrial classes should be upon this commission in addition? Is it not the case that the members of this commission are taken up with academic and not actual practical matters?
§ The Prime MinisterI should not call them academic matters. I think the two ladies in question, who come from the places named by the hon. Member, are particularly well qualified to assist in an investigation of this kind by reason of their past experience.
§ Mr. MacleanIs it not the case that very few people have heard of them before?