HC Deb 28 February 1940 vol 357 cc2052-3
33. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will have placed in the Library for the use of Members a duplicated copy of the report of the Royal Commission on the West Indies, or, if this is not possible, a fair summary or abridgement of the report?

35. Mr. Jagger

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can see his way to placing a manuscript copy of the report of the Royal Commission on the West Indies in the Library so that interested Members may have an opportunity of reading it?

Mr. M. MacDonald

I regret that I cannot meet the hon. Members' request. With regard to the second part of the Question by the hon. Member for Leyton, West (Mr. Sorensen), I do not consider that the report could be satisfactorily summarised or abridged except in the form of the statement of recommendations prepared by the commissioners themselves, which was published last week.

Mr. Sorensen

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the evidence upon which the report is based is already published, and, further, does he appreciate how difficult it is to consider the recommendations of a Commission when we are not fully aware of the material upon which they are based?

Mr. MacDonald

Both those facts were taken into consideration when the Government were considering the matter.

Mr. Sorensen

Then will the right hon. Gentleman not assist Members to discuss the matter?