HC Deb 24 November 1964 vol 702 cc1066-7
16. Mr. Dudley Smith

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, when he expects to receive the report of the Allen Committee of Inquiry into Rating; and whether he will publish it.

Mr. Crossman

As I stated in reply to the hon. Member for Dorset, North (Sir Richard Glyn) on 16th November, the Report has now been presented and will be published as soon as possible.

Mr. Smith

But as the Allen Report is bound to reveal cases of hardship, would the right hon. Gentleman make a start on solving this problem by transferring more of the cost of education to the national Exchequer; or does he stand by his reported statement at the weekend that there is no immediate possibility of solving this problem?

Mr. Crossman

That does not seem to be very much to do with the Question.

Mr. Ridsdale

Could the Minister do something about this as soon as possible? Is he aware that many elderly people are most anxiously awaiting this Report, which it has taken over two years to produce? Is it a fact that he has appointed another Committee to smear over the conclusions of the Allen Committee?

Mr. Crossman

I had the impression from what the hon. Gentleman said that he feels that everything rushes to fruition under a new Labour Government, and I am very grateful to him for that feeling. On the question of the other Committee, I know of no other Committee. We shall publish the Allen Report as soon as we can. It is a very bulky Report. I staggered under it last weekend when I took it down to read it. It has a hundred statistical tables in its appendix and I reckon that it will take at least 10 weeks to publish.