HC Deb 14 December 1948 vol 459 cc1018-9
45. Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now publish the Four-Year Plan submitted by His Majesty's Government to the O.E.E.C.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Sir Stafford Cripps)

The United Kingdom Four-Year Programme will be published as a White Paper as soon as the Interim Report of O.E.E.C. is ready for submission to the European Co-operation Administrator.

Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre

Can the Chancellor of the Exchequer say, as the gist of the plan has already been published, on 22nd November, in the "New York Tribune," why this House cannot see it?

Sir S. Cripps

That has already been explained on more than one occasion.

Viscount Hinchingbrooke

Were the Foreign Office consulted before this plan was put forward, and is the Chancellor of the Exchequer satisfied that it is a useful and helpful aspect of British foreign policy?

Sir S. Cripps

Certainly.

Mr. Stanley

Can the Chancellor say when the Interim Report is likely to be published, and when we shall be allowed to read officially what we have already been privileged to read informally?

Sir S. Cripps

I hope that it will be published before Christmas.

Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman please explain why it is that this document was allowed to be published some three weeks ago in Paris and this House has no official cognisance of it?

Sir S. Cripps

As was explained, an undertaking was given by the various Governments that they would not publish, in advance of the publication of O.E.E.C., their own plans, but, unfortunately, there was some leak in Paris and it got out in that way.

Mr. Piratin

If in America our plan has been published—and I assume that America have not published their own plan—when may we he in a position to publish the French plan and the other plans concerned?

Sir S. Cripps

America have not got a plan.

Mr. Piratin

I meant France.

Mr. Donner

Apart from the leakage in Paris, as the Chancellor himself and the B.B.C., on 28th October last, revealed some of the more important sections of the Plan, is there any reason why Parliament should not be given the Report?

Sir S. Cripps

When the hon. Gentleman sees the Plan he will see that I did not reveal any important sections of it.

Mr. Leslie Hale

Is it not a fact that part of the interim Report is available in the Library of the House of Commons and represents a monumental tribute to the efforts of the British worker and the British Government, and shows that this country is making a tremendous contribution to European recovery?

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