§ 36. Mr. Selwyn Lloydasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what date he proposes to publish the minutes of the evidence given at the inquiry into the recent disturbances in the Eastern Province of Nigeria.
§ 38. Mr. T. Reidasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if it is his intention to make available to hon. Members the minutes of evidence taken by the Commission of Inquiry into the disorders in the Eastern Province of Nigeria.
Mr. DugdaleA copy of the verbatim record of the proceedings of the Commission has been placed in the Library of the House. As it is very long, my right hon. Friend does not propose to publish it.
§ Mr. LloydDoes the right hon. Gentleman not appreciate that that is exceedingly unsatisfactory, and that it is quite impossible to make a detailed examination of the evidence of this very important inquiry unless it is possible to have the use of a copy at one's leisure? The putting of only one copy in the Library is completely unsatisfactory. It is impossible to do justice to the very important issues involved unless every Member of the House has available the full minutes of the evidence.
Mr. DugdaleMy right hon. Friend thought that that would be adequate, because it will be a quite expensive and long business to publish this document; but if there is a desire to have it, quite naturally we could get it. We do not, of course, want to withhold any information from the House.
§ Mr. EdenMay I remind the right hon. Gentleman—I think I asked the Minister for this last week—that if the House is to consider this matter intelligently it is necessary that we must have the printed document? We cannot all queue up in the Library for it.
§ Mr. ReidIs the cost of publication of this document very heavy? Is it in the region of about £1,000 or not?
§ Mr. ErrollCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the evidence will be available to the Press in the meantime?