§ 46. Sir W. Smithersasked the Prime Minister if he will set up a Royal Commission on the lines of the May Committee presided over by an independent chairman at which evidence can be taken on oath and the proceedings open to the public to inquire and report to this House on the financial and economic position of Britain and to make recommendations as to where economies should be made.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir.
§ Sir W. SmithersIn view of the Prime Minister's appeal for increased production and more work, would it not be a good thing for the public to have the independent opinion of an independent committee about the financial and economic position of the country?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. I do not think that the May Committee was a useful device, and I would also point out to the hon. Gentleman that it was not a Royal Commission, that it did not take evidence and that its proceedings were not open to the public.
§ Sir W. SmithersWhat I am asking the right hon. Gentleman is whether we can have some facts without party bias.
§ The Prime MinisterThe House and the country have been given abundant facts, and I do not think that the method of the May Committee was a particularly good way of establishing the facts.
§ Mr. McGovernMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman to make sure that no committee similar to the May Committee will be set up, because it was a convenient way of getting rid of the last Labour Government?
47. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Prime Minister if he is aware that facts and figures of our essential requirements are openly published in the U.S.A.; and if he will give an assurance that all facts and figures in this connection given to the U.S. Government will also be made available if called for to Members of this House.
§ The Prime MinisterI am aware that some information of this kind has been published in the United States; but I regret that I cannot give the assurance for which the hon. Member asks in the second half of his Question. In the course of negotiations with the United States Government there are bound to be exchanges of secret information which it would be against the public interest to publish at the time.
Mr. De la BèreIs the Prime Minister aware that in one specific case the petroleum consumption figures for the period, which were denied to us in Parliament, were announced in the United States and published openly in all sections of the Press; and can he say why the House of Commons has been denied this information which is available to the American public? It would seem that there is discrimination against Parliament.
§ The Prime MinisterI am not aware of the incident mentioned by the hon. Gentleman and perhaps he will send me particulars of it. Obviously, if secret information is sent across to another country, I cannot be responsible for its being divulged there
Mr. De la BèreIs it not a fact that we cannot get statistics, figures or information here? I do not think the Minister was right in saying last night that we were given everything we asked for.