28. Miss Wardasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he has submitted the American Mission's Report on the British coalfields to the Technical Committee advising him on coal production, with a view to their considering the recommendations contained therein.
§ Mr. T. SmithI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. and gallant Friend gave on the 12th December last to a question by the hon. Member for Stourbridge (Mr. Morgan).
Miss WardIn view of the fact that the report cannot be published because the evidence was given in secret, could my hon. Friend say on what authority the miners' evidence was disclosed to the coal-owners through the medium of this report?
§ Mr. SmithThe position has been made clear on more than one occasion, and I told the hon. Member a few days ago that the report was submitted in confidence to the Technical Committee so that they could have the benefit of the evidence which is in the report.
Miss WardThe hon. Gentleman has misunderstood the purport of my supplementary question. On what authority was the miners' evidence, which was given to the Commission in secret, disclosed to the Technical Committee, which consists of coalowners' representatives?