§ Dame Irene Ward(by Private Notice) asked the Minister of Transport whether, owing to the disclosure of a confidential report by the Chandos Committee on the replacement of the "Queen" liners, he will make a statement.
§ The Minister of Transport (Mr. Ernest Marples)If my hon. friend is referring to the front page story in today's Daily Mail, I can assure her that I have not yet received the report of the Chandos Committee; and that until I do I can make no further statement. I am assured by the chairman that the Committee has not yet prepared its report, or, indeed, formulated its recommendations. There is, therefore, no foundation for the suggestion that there has been a disclosure of a confidential report.
§ Dame Irene WardI thank my right hon. Friend for having cleared up that particular difficulty. As he has cleared it up so admirably, I am very sorry that I am not now able to advance the case for building one of the "Queen" liners on the Tyne.