§ Mr. COOPERasked the Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that a Government lecturer on the National Insurance Act, who is paid out of public funds, gave four lectures in Walsall last week; that every person attending these lectures was required to make a declaration of secrecy; that a written application by the Parliamentary representative for that borough 1001W for a ticket of admission to those lectures was refused; and, if so, is the lecturer acting under his direction or with his consent?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI have already fully explained in answers to questions the position with regard to lectures. The reason for privacy in connection with the courses for the training of officials (as apart from general lectures on the Act where no such condition is laid down) is the desire of those officials themselves, as they have submitted to the Commissioners that the free interchange of questions and answers and (sometimes) the free discussion of the affairs of special societies are not possible in conferences which are in the nature of public meetings. I regret if, under a misapprehension, the hon. Gentleman was refused a ticket of admission to such a course, and will be very glad to see that he will have every facility given him to attend these or other courses of instruction on the Insurance Act.