§ 1. Mr. Maxtonasked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether the Members of the Parliamentary Commission to Newfoundland have now completed their labours and returned to this country; whether they have submitted a report; and, if so, will the House have an opportunity of reading and discussing it?
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs (Mr. Emrys-Evans)Yes, Sir. The members of the Parliamentary Mission to Newfoundland have now arrived back in this country, and I am sure that all of us in this House are delighted that they should be with us again after their long, strenuous and highly successful tour. My hon. Friend will recall that there was no intention that the Mission should present a report for publication, but the three Members have in fact produced accounts of the personal impressions and views which they formed in Newfoundland. These will be of great assistance to my Noble Friend the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, who is most grateful for the trouble they have taken. A full opportunity will occur for them to express their views on this important problem when Commonwealth affairs come up for discussion in this House.
§ Mr. MaxtonMay I add my felicitations for the safe return of the hon. Members, but is it not rather a scurvy way to treat three Members of this House who were sent as representing this House to make important inquiries that neither are their findings being reported to the House in writing nor are they to be given a special occasion for the discussion of the problems in Newfoundland, but are to be left merely to some casual committees which may or may not arise in the near future?
§ Mr. Emrys-EvansNo, Sir. The position was made quite clear by my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council before the Mission left, when he said:
I do not think it would be advisable for them to have to give a written report.
§ Mr. MaxtonThey have done it.
§ Mr. Emrys-EvansHe did not think it advisable that it should be published; there was no question of the publication of the report.
§ Sir Percy HarrisWill the hon. Gentleman consult the Leader of the House and see whether this decision can be reconsidered, as the House of Commons is anxious to see these reports and is full of curiosity and would like to have the advantage of discussing them?
§ Mr. Emrys-EvansNo, Sir, these reports are confidential, and my noble Friend does not consider it desirable.
§ Sir Herbert WilliamsIs it not a question therefore that these three Members of Parliament have been muzzled by Ministers and cannot, in speech, say anything they have written?
§ Mr. Emrys-EvansNo, Sir, the hon. Member must not come to that conclusion.
§ Sir H. WilliamsSurely after the statement that their written report is confidential their spoken report should be confidential? How can we resolve them?
§ Mr. Emrys-EvansThat is not the right, conclusion. The hon. Members concerned will have an opportunity of expressing their views in any way they like during the course of the Debate which will arise in the usual way.
§ Mr. ShinwellAs this is a Parliamentary delegation and not a Government delegation, are not hon. Members entitled to know what their colleagues have disclosed of their visit to Newfoundland, and would my hon. Friend make representations to the appropriate quarter expressing the opinion of the House?
§ Mr. Emrys-EvansNo, Sir. The position was made quite clear before the party left.
§ Mr. ShinwellIs my hon. Friend aware that it does not lie with him to decide what the House should do, and if the House expresses itself to the contrary he should make the necessary representations to the proper quarter, and, if he is not prepared to do that, will he step out of the way and allow us to do it?
§ Mr. Emrys-EvansNo, Sir. I have given the reply with regard to the view of my noble Friend. This report was a confidential report, and he does not think it desirable that it should be published.
§ Captain Peter MacdonaldIs it not a fact that a day has been asked for to discuss Dominion affairs, and is it proposed that conditions in Newfoundland should be discussed on that day, or are they to have a separate day for discussion? Dominion affairs have not been discussed in this House for five years, and therefore is it not important that we should have a full day for a discussion on Dominion affairs as well as a day for a discussion on Newfoundland affairs?
§ Mr. Emrys-EvansThat is a matter for the House.
§ Mr. Neil MacleanIs it not wise to give this House an opportunity of discussing a report from a Parliamentary Mission that went out to seek certain information for the purpose of the better government of one of our dependancies? I would ask the hon. Member therefore whether, instead of being so emphatic, as he is now, he will consider taking the matter back to his superior to find out whether something can be done?
§ Mr. Emrys-EvansIt is not a question of one report but of three reports.
§ Mr. MacleanAs there is a difference of opinion, is it not all the more necessary that the matter should be brought before the House?
§ Mr. MolsonAre we to understand that these hon. Members were not invited either formally or informally to present any report and that these are just spontaneous expressions of opinion on their part?
§ Mr. Emrys-EvansThe position was made quite clear by my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council in a Debate on 10th June, when he used these words:
I do not think it would be advisable for them to have to give a written report."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 10th June, 1943; col. 896, Vol. 390]
§ Mr. MaxtonThey have done so.
§ Mr. MolsonI understand that they have done so, and that was a spontaneous act on their part, which was neither asked for nor apparently welcomed by His Majesty's Government.