§ 47. Mr. Loganasked the Prime Minister whether he will, at the conclusion of the "Thetis" Inquiry, circulate to the Members of the House, the verbatim report of evidence taken?
§ The Prime MinisterUntil the report of the tribunal is received, I do not think it is possible to decide whether there would be justification for the expense of reproducing a large number of copies of the evidence.
§ Mr. LoganSeeing that our voices have been stilled on account of this inquiry, and in view of the revelations which are taking place, is it not necessary that we shall have before us the true facts of the inquiry?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not want to prejudge that question, but I think the time to decide is when the report has been received.
§ Mr. GreenwoodIn view of the very widespread public interest and the deep 1806 national concern there is about this matter, would it not be advisable for the right hon. Gentleman, in order to allay any feelings there may be, to undertake-that the evidence shall be published with the report of Mr. Justice Bucknill?
§ The Prime MinisterI fully appreciate the point which the right hon. Gentleman makes, and, as I say, I am not prejudging the question at all, but I still think that it would be better to see what the report says.
§ Mr. GreenwoodWhile realising the necessity for, perhaps, withholding the results of the official and technical inquiry, would it not be in the public interest that nothing should be withheld from the public—with a view to avoiding a similar disaster in the future?
§ The Prime MinisterI will certainly keep that in mind.