§ 21. Mr. J. Hyndasked the Minister of Transport whether the official inquiry into the Harrow train disaster will be 1564 opened at all sessions to members of the public and the Press.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydYes, Sir, at all formal sessions at which witnesses are examined.
§ Mr. HyndDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise the importance of giving the maximum publicity to these inquiries, particularly in view of the deplorable and scandalous innuendoes contained in a front page article in the "Sunday Pictorial" recently which made allegations against the Minister's tribunal, suggesting that it would whitewash the inquiry and fob the public off with scapegoats or excuses, and, at the same time, proceeded to blacken all grades of railway servants in connection with the Harrow railway disaster before the inquiry had been held?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI am sure that the overwhelming mass of opinion in this country is in favour of the procedure which has been adopted and will await with patience and anxiety the publication of the Chief Inspecting Officer's report.
§ Mr. HyndWill the right hon. Gentleman make it as widely known as possible that he and this House deplore that kind of article while a case is sub judice?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI am always reluctant to comment on an article without having the article in front of me, but I know that the procedure adopted by the Government, which, I think, would have been adopted by its predecessors, commends itself to everybody's good sense. The interim statement the Chief Inspecting Officer was very welcome and has done something to reassure public opinion.