§ 20. Mr. Ridleyasked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will prepare a special edition of the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation's report on relations between the Post Office and the telecommunications industry, with a view to getting the approval of all concerned to its publication.
§ Mr. ShoreNo, Sir. It was stated when the inquiry was initiated that it would be confidential and that its results would not be published. The inquiry was pursued and the report prepared on those firm understandings and it would not be right now to breach them.
§ Mr. RidleyWhile accepting that there are commercial secrets which should not be released, would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that, to have a proper study on these important industrial matters, the facts should have been made available to the public at large and to Members of this House? How can we discharge our duty if the Minister is not prepared to give us the information?
§ Mr. ShoreI cannot go back on a firm pledge given by the I.R.C. to the firms concerned. [Interruption.] The 1941 firms provided information, a lot of which contained confidential matters about their own particular circumstances, on the understanding that it would not be released. I am surprised that hon. Gentlemen opposite should in these circumstances be pressing me to release it.