HC Deb 29 January 1942 vol 377 cc895-6
10. Mr. Brooke

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can now state when the Second Report of the Beveridge Committee on Skilled Men in the Services will be published?

11. Sir Irving Albery

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can now say when it is proposed to publish the Report of the Beveridge Committee; and what action has been taken since the Report was issued in October last?

Mr. Bevin

I am not at present in a position to add to my reply to the hon. Member for Gravesend (Sir I Albery) on 8th January, 1942.

Mr. Brooke

I do not know whether my right hon. Friend himself is responsible, but why has it taken the Departments concerned three months to arrive at decisions on the Report of this very important Committee?

Sir I. Albery

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the idea is getting about that no real effort is being made to expedite publication of the Report?

Mr. Bevin

I can assure hon. Members that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, in conjunction with my right hon. and gallant Friend the Secretary of State for War, is dealing with the points in the Report affecting the defence organisation.

Captain Strickland

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind especially, with a view to making representations to the necessary quarters, that there are men of low military grade who are unsuited for military duties, but are nevertheless skilled workmen and very much wanted in productive industry?

Sir I. Albery

Is it not urgently desirable that the Prime Minister should have some colleague in his Cabinet who can decide these things for him?

Viscountess Astor

Does not this prove that the Prime Minister cannot be Prime Minister and Minister of Defence at one time?