23. Mr. De la Bèreasked the President of the Board of Trade under what authority statements appeared in the evening Press of 24th June and the morning Press of 25th June relating to the Third Report of the Retail Trade Committee since the Report was not published and available for Members of Parliament; and whether he can give an assurance that this information was not given under authority of the Board of Trade?
§ Mr. DaltonI have made full inquiries, and I am satisfied that there was no leakage of information through Departmental channels.
Mr. De la BèreWhile the Press are in no way to blame, how came it that in the late stop press, in inverted commas, on 24th June, there was something purporting to be from this Report, which was published five days later? Surely that was more than intelligent anticipation? There must have been some inspired motive. I am afraid I shall have to raise this matter on the Adjournment; I regret that I cannot accept this explanation as entirely satisfactory.