§ 45. Mr. Edelmanasked the Prime Minister whether he will give an assurance that, when the duties hitherto undertaken by local authorities or any organisation whose proceedings were open to the Press are transferred to Government corporations, boards or companies, the right of the Press to attend the meetings of the new controlling organisations will be safeguarded.
§ The Lord President of the Council (Mr. Herbert Morrison)I have been asked to reply. It would not be practicable for statutory bodies set up to operate trading services transferred from local authorities to conduct their business in public sessions. In the case of regional hospital boards it can reasonably be argued that it would be within the spirit of the provisions of the Local Authorities (Admission of Press to Meetings) Act, 1908, that the Press should be admitted to meetings of the board, and the Minister of Health has already given an assurance that the necessary arrangements will be made.