Mr. TYSON WILSONasked the Minister of Munitions whether he pro- 442W poses to issue the notes of the evidence taken by the Central Control Board at the inquiry held at Manchester on the 23rd November last as a Parliamentary Paper?
§ Dr. ADDISONI regret that I can add nothing to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Tower Hamlets on the 16th December last.
Mr. WILSONalso asked the Minister of Munitions (1) how many urban district councils there are in Lancashire, Cheshire, and Flint; how many of them were invited to send representatives to the conference called by the Central Control Board in Manchester on the 23rd of November last; how many of these representatives attended; and how many of them gave evidence; (2) how many employers of labour were invited to attend the conference with the Central Control Board held at Manchester on the 23rd of November last; how many gave evidence; and whether their evidence was against any further Order being made; and (3) how many trades councils were asked to send representatives to meet the Central Control Board in Manchester on the 23rd of November last; how many attended; how many gave evidence; and whether the majority of those who gave evidence were of the opinion that no further Order was necessary?
§ Dr. ADDISONI stated in reply to a question on the 6th January that between three and four hundred persons were invited to the conference in Manchester, that it was not possible to give within the limits of an answer the names of all the persons invited, but that they included representatives of the military authorities, of the local civil authorities, and of the leading employers and trades councils within the area of the inquiry. The civil authorities included county, county borough and municipal borough councils, but not urban district councils, of which there are more than a hundred in the combined area. It is not proposed to publish a statement of the evidence which they gave.
Mr. WILSONfurther asked the Minister of Munitions whether official reports of interviews and conferences with the Central Control Board and the decisions of the Board are issued to the Press; and, if so, who is responsible for issuing the same?
§ Dr. ADDISONOfficial reports of interviews and conferences with the Central 443W Control Board are not as a rule issued to the Press. There have been one or two cases where, by agreement with the deputation, an authorised statement has been issued. The Orders of the Board are published in the "Gazette" as soon as possible after they are made.