HC Deb 08 May 1941 vol 371 c971
13. Mr. Rhys Davies

asked the Minister of Health whether he has now considered issuing the last Annual Report for his Department in an abbreviated form; and will he state his decision?

Mr. E. Brown

Yes, Sir. I propose to issue a summarised report covering the two years ended 31st March, 1941, when the material has been collated.

Mr. Davies

Will the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to ask some of his officers, when they give statistics of what is happening to the health of the community, to see that Parliament shall receive that information at any rate at the same time as they give it to the Press?

Mr. Brown

I am doing my best in that matter, but, as the hon. Member knows, I am not responsible for the conduct of the Business of the House.

Sir F. Fremantle

Does the right hon. Gentleman's reply refer to the Annual Report of the Chief Medical Officer of the Ministry, or to the Report of the Department, because that is an extremely valuable document for the whole world?

Mr. Brown

I shall do my best to have at least a summary published.