§ 49. Sir W. Smithersasked the Prime Minister whether he will issue a White Paper giving details of the action taken and results obtained as a result of the first 11 reports of the Select Committee on National Expenditure?
§ The Prime MinisterThe 11th report of the Select Committee, published on 8th August, 1940, contains a summary of the action taken by Departments on the recommendations contained in the Committee's first eight reports. I understand that they have in preparation a similar summary dealing with later reports.
§ Sir W. SmithersWill my right hon. Friend take advantage of the great amount of work done by the Select Committee on National Expenditure and its sub-committees, and see whether some good results cannot be derived from their examination?
§ The Prime MinisterCertainly, Sir. I read very carefully any criticisms which emerge in these reports, even though in many cases they appear to be very remote from the terms of reference which were given to the Committee. I can assure my hon. Friend that we shall do our utmost to profit by any of the recommendations in cases where action has not been already taken in that sense.