§ 24. Mr. Kenneth Lewisasked the Minister of Public Building and Works what evidence his Department has presented to the Bolton Committee on Small Firms; and whether he will publish it.
§ Mr. John SilkinThis evidence is still in preparation and no decision has been taken about publishing it.
§ Mr. LewisIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that I am disappointed with that reply? I did not think that he would have been inhibited by the fact that the Press are present today. In view of the eminent support for and interest in this subject by someone who is also a close company which is in difficulties, will the right hon. Gentleman recognise that the building trade is composed as to about 80 per cent. of small companies? The credit squeeze is bearing down very hardly on them, and the right hon. Gentleman will not get production increased unless he makes representations to help them.
§ Mr. SilkinI have an idea that we have rather dealt with the second part of that question already. As to the first part, I know that Mr. Bolton has undertaken to publish a selection of evidence received, and I shall be ready to consider any request that he may make about the evidence of my Department.