§ 50. Mr. Peter Thorneycroftasked the Minister of Agriculture if he will cause to be published the profit and loss accounts of the Monmouthshire War Agricultural Executive Committee.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsI presume the hon. Member has in mind the annual income and expenditure accounts which all county agricultural executive committees were required to prepare for 1946–47 and subsequent years. The accounts for 1946–47 are now being examined but to decision as to publication has yet been reached.
§ Mr. ThorneycroftWill the right hon. Gentleman say if there is any conceivable reason why the public should not know whether these war agricultural executive committees are making a profit or a loss? Can he give any reason whatever why that knowledge should be denied to the public.
§ Mr. WilliamsI do not need to tell the hon. Gentleman that these accounts will be dealt with by the Public Accounts Committee, so that the public will be aware of what is happening.