§ 48. Mr. Lawsonasked the Prime Minister when the report of the Royal Commission which considered the location of industry and the distribution of the population will be published; and whether he will take steps to establish a permanent body to prepare plans to deal with this problem in order to meet the situation when peace is established?
§ The Prime MinisterIn reply to the first part of the qustion I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for East Middlesbrough (Mr. A. Edwards). As regards the second part, I am afraid that I cannot in present conditions say how soon it will be possible to give due consideration to whatever proposals may be contained in the report.
§ Mr. LawsonIs the Prime Minister aware of the urgency for the appointment of such a committee as is suggested, since factories are being set up in areas to which children have been sent?
§ The Prime MinisterWhen we see what the proposals are we may then consider whether it is possible to do anything.
§ Mr. IsaacsIs it not a fact that the report is already set up in type, and that, therefore, the major cost of the labour involved is already incurred? Why, therefore, cannot the report be issued?
§ The Prime MinisterI have already answered that question several times by saying that the printers are now engaged on work of greater national importance.
§ Mr. IsaacsWe have had no answer yet to the contention that there are thousands of workers in this industry unemployed.