HC Deb 14 November 1945 vol 415 cc2119-20
Mr. Tom Smith

I would like your guidance, Mr. Deputy-Speaker, on a point which I think ought to be corrected. I have been doing my best to get into contact with the Minister of Fuel and Power to give him an opportunity of correcting what was obviously a mistake made yesterday when, replying to a question about coal output, the Minister said in answer to a supplementary question, that the output per man shift had increased during the past six weeks from 1.1 tons to 1.3 tons, whereas in HANSARD this morning the correct figures are given, that the figures had gone up from 1.01 to 1.03 per man shift. The point I have in mind is that unless that correction is made here and given the same publicity in the Press as has been given to the incorrect figures this morning, it will rather harm than encourage the increased output of coal.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Fuel and Power (Mr. William Foster)

My right hon. Friend was not aware that this matter was to be raised this afternoon by my hon. Friend the Member for Normanton (Mr. T. Smith), otherwise he would have been in his place to answer the question. The reply which my right hon. Friend gave yesterday was to a supplementary question in respect to the increase in output and, relying upon his memory, he omitted to put a nought after the decimal point. The result was that he gave a wrong impression and an inaccurate figure. Immediately following Question Time he realised the mistake, and the Official Reporters were informed. Hon. Members will observe that in the Official Report this morning it has been put in order; also, the correction was sent on to the Press. That is the statement I have to make.

Mr. Eden

May I ask the Leader of the House if this is perhaps one of the reasons why the Government are so reluctant to give information?

Colonel Lancaster

I do not think hon. Members or the public will be very concerned about the difference between .01 and .1 and .03 and .3. What they are worried about is the Minister having said that there was an appreciable increase and by no possible calculation—[An Hon. Member: "Are you making a speech?"]—could .01 to .03 be considered an appreciable increase.

Captain Crookshank

As the Minister realised almost at once that he had made a mistake, would it not have been better if he had come down to the House straight away and made the correction here?

Mr. Deputy-Speaker

That is a matter for the Minister—he made the correction in HANSARD.