HC Deb 13 May 1941 vol 371 cc1065-6
24. Mr. T. Smith

asked the Secretary for Mines whether it is intended to publish, in an abbreviated form, the Annual Reports of his department?

Mr. Grenfell

A general decision has been taken to suspend for the time being the issue of Department Reports not immediately essential to the current war effort. It is not, therefore, proposed to issue the Reports in question at present, even in an abbreviated form.

Mr. Smith

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that there are plenty of matters in the mining industry which are far from satisfactory and which might warrant at least the issue of a summary?

Mr. Grenfell

I do not think there is any reason why we should not discuss in this House, or give publicity in another way to urgent matters of that kind, but there is a large mass of statistical information which would serve no good purpose at present.

Mr. Rhys Davies

But Ministers for other Departments have promised reports in an abbreviated form.

Mr. Grenfell

Yes, but there is really no reason why we cannot give all the information required without handing it round in printed form.