HL Deb 04 November 1958 vol 212 cc140-2

2.38 p.m.

LORD AMMON

My Lords, I beg to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the possible date of the publication of the Report from the Medical Research Council on the relation of drink and road accidents can now be announced.]

THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (VISCOUNT HAILSHAM)

My Lords, a paper giving the results of the experimental work conducted under the auspices of the Medical Research Council on the effect of alcohol upon the skill of drivers of motor vehicles has already been published in the British Medical Journal on October 25, 1958. A more detailed presentation of the methods used, and the data upon which the conclusions are based, will be published by the Council in due course.

LORD AMMON

My Lords, may I ask what is the reason for the continual delay arid procrastination in regard to the publication of this Report; and is it usual to publish a Report to this House in a journal before Parliament receives it?

VISCOUNT HAILSHAM

My Lords, with regard to the first part of the question, the reason for the delay in the publication of the full Report is that those concerned have not yet completed the draft. The answer to the second part of the question is that it was thought desirable to give the findings to the public as soon as possible. When the full Report comes I understand that it will add nothing of importance, so far as the general public are concerned. It will, however, be of interest to other research workers in that it will give full experimental details.

LORD AMMON

But does the Minister not know that on October 28 last an ex tract from the Report was published in the British Medical Journal and an indication that they had the full Report and, in fact, had had it for some time?

VISCOUNT HAILSHAM

The British Medical Journal has not the full Report because it is not ready. What was published on October 25, and not on October 28, was a paper giving the results of the experimental work.

LORD MATHERS

My Lords, may I ask the Minister whether he is aware that on several occasions publication of the Report referred to has been promised by the Government? What purpose is intended to be served by withholding that Report from publication? If it is not possible for the Government to make up their minds about it, does he not realise that by publishing the Report he might be aiding the Government in making up their minds by their seeing the reception that the Report receives when it is published?

VISCOUNT HAILSHAM

I am very glad to see the noble Lord back in his place again but I must tell him, in answer to his question, that the Government are not withholding publication of the Report. They will publish it as soon as they have it. What is holding up the publication of the Report is the fact that the author or principal draftsman of it, as a University professor of psychology, is an independent worker who has undertaken this work with the aid of a grant from the Medical Research Council. He has been asked to produce the Report as soon as possible, but there must be some limit to the amount of pressure put on a person in that position. There is no question of the Government's not making up its mind. It is a scientific Report, and it is not ready yet.