HC Deb 15 November 1948 vol 458 cc17-8
25. Mr. De la Bère

asked the Minister of Works why representatives of the Press are debarred from attending and reporting zonal conferences; and if he will now remove this disability.

Mr. Key

Zone conferences are in no sense public meetings. The Press do not attend inter-Departmental meetings held for the transaction of official business and these meetings are of the same type. I see no reason to change the practice.

Mr. De la Bère

Do not these conferences bring out many of the reasons for the almost unbelievable slowness in building? Surely the public has a right to know what these reasons are? Surely the whole object is defeated if the conferences are kept secret?

Mr. Key

The purpose of these zone conferences is to consider the allocation between the various local authorities concerned of the available building labour and materials in the area. This sort of discussion could not adequately and properly be carried out in public.

Mr. De la Bère

In view of the thoroughly unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment without further ado.