HC Deb 08 February 1940 vol 357 cc384-5
17. Mr. Leonard

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has yet received the replies from the Departments concerned, which would allow him to decide on the practicability of resuming in the Labour Gazette, publication of the names of successful contractors; and, if so, what is his decision?

Mr. E. Brown

I do not propose to resume publication of lists of contracts in the Ministry of Labour Gazette during wartime, but I have under consideration the possibility of arranging for similar information to be made available in other ways.

Mr. Leonard

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what other methods he proposes to adopt? Is he aware that the publication of such details is necessary in order to allay the growing suspicion which exists in many party of the country that in the allocation of these contracts too little attention is paid to the distressed areas?

Mr. Brown

That is one of the problems—the problem of making the necessary information available to all concerned without disclosing to the enemy facts which ought not to be disclosed.

Mr. Leonard

Will the method adopted be a public one, or will it depend on the application of interested parties?

Mr. Brown

It will be a method 01 disclosing the information to those responsible if it can be done without disclosing information to the enemy.

Mr. Neil Maclean

Does the Minister intend to provide Members of Parliament with the particular statement which he is issuing or is that to be refused to them?

Mr. Brown

Whatever information is available to other persons concerned will be available, of course, to Members of this House, but the question is how to make it available.