HC Deb 24 July 1967 vol 751 cc38-9
24. Dr. David Owen

asked the Minister of Social Security if she is satisfied with the arrangements made for providing publicity for the Report on the Circumstances of Families; and if she will make a statement.

Miss Herbison

Some newspapers and periodicals have, I am glad to say, given substantial space to the findings of this Report. But I regret that the Press did not have longer to study the complex material in it before publication.

Dr. Owen

Why did not the Press have adequate notice of this very important Report? Is my right hon. Friend aware that The Guardian alleged that the procedure in this case was typical?

Miss Herbison

One of the reasons was that we were anxious to get the Report out and felt that if we waited another day, which would have allowed the usual time and given up to 24 hours' warning, we might have had complaints that we were delaying the Report further.

25. Dr. David Owen

asked the Minister of Social Security why the Report on Circumstances of Families which was promised for May or June was not published until July.

Miss Herbison

The report was published on 5th July, i.e., on the third working day after the end of June. In view of the many complications involved in such a report this publication date was not unreasonable.

Dr. Owen

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the delay in publication was deeply regretted by some of us? When was the information on the uptake of school meals made available to the Department of Education and Science?

Miss Herbison

Whatever information was needed for the decisions which had to be taken was in the hands of those Ministers who needed it.