§ Mr. W. GRAHAMasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that no provision is made for the representation of the Press or public at the meetings of the Scottish divisional council for employment and resettlement or at the meetings of labour advisory committees, including courts of referees dealing with the payment of the unemployment donation; whether, having regard to the public interest in these matters, he will give directions that meetings should be held in public, subject to such regulations as may be necessary in individual cases; and what are the reasons governing the present procedure regarding the publicity of these meetings?
§ Sir R. HORNEThe practice adopted, on the suggestion of the Ministry of Labour, by the Scottish Employment Council and, I understand, by most other employment councils and committees, is to hold their meetings ordinarily in private, but, at the discretion of the person presiding at the meeting, representatives of the Press may be admitted to meetings when matters of public importance are 619W being discussed. On the other hand, all confidential matters, including all matters affecting individual employers and workpeople, are discussed in private. The Courts of Referees have to deal with the private affairs of employers and workpeople, and consequently representatives of the Press are not admitted to their meetings. I see no grounds for varying the present procedure as regards the Press and the same considerations apply as regards members of the public in general.