HC Deb 09 July 1947 vol 439 cc2187-8
19. Mr. Cooper

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation in connection with the various committees on civil aviation set up in the Ministry, on what grounds is a distinction made between a Departmental or inter-Departmental committee, the names of the members of which he declines to publish, and an advisory or co-ordinating or technical committee whose members' names he does customarily publish.

Mr. Lindgren

The 'reason for this distinction is the well recognised usage of preserving the anonymity of individual civil servants as far as possible

Mr. Cooper

Could my hon. Friend say whether, in the case of the Self Committee, there are members who are not civil servants, and whether it will be possible to publish their names?

Mr. Lindgren

Yes, Sir, but in a Committee such as the Self Committee, in which there is joint representation, it would still be undesirable. Ministers are responsible for policy, and it is preferable that controversy should range round the Minister rather than civil servants, who are advisers of the Minister