HC Deb 12 October 1943 vol 392 cc709-10
57. Captain P. Macdonald

asked the Prime Minister whether it is proposed to answer and to publish the answers to the main question which were put forward by women at the Albert Hall meeting but were not then dealt with owing to lack of time?

The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labour (Mr. Tomlinson)

I have been asked to reply. Yes, Sir. It is proposed to deal with the main questions in the report which will be circulated to those attending the Conference.

Sir H. Williams

Will not the report be available to the general public and to Members of the House?

Mr. Tomlinson

The intention is that the report should have a restricted circulation.

Sir H. Williams

On what ground is public money being spent for the secret distribution of information to a class of persons picked nobody knows how?

Mr. Tomlinson

That is a question which will need consideration.

Sir P. Harris

Will the report be a full one, or expurgated?

Mr. Tomlinson

Again, I cannot say until I have seen the report.

Mr. Boothby

Shall we be allowed to have a look at it?

Captain P. Macdonald

Who is to receive a copy of this report? Is it confined to members of the Conference?

Mr. Tomlinson

It was intended that the report should be restricted in its circulation. The intention was that the people who were attending the Conference should receive a copy.

Mr. Pritt

Is it really intended that the only people to see this report are the people who attended the meeting and therefore already know all about it?

Mr. Tomlinson

The hon. and learned Member's knowledge of conferences surely will convince him of the necessity of a report for people who are representing organisations, in order that they can report back.