Dr. Guestasked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to a statement broadcast by Sir William Beveridge, chairman of the Unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee, on 24th November, dealing with two points in the Unemployment Insurance Bill which, although presented to the House on 23rd November, was not available to Members in the Vote Office until 25th November, in which political pronouncements were made as to the disposal of the surplus in the Unemployment Fund at the end of the year, together with the intimation that the surplus was earmarked for certain uses; whether the disclosure of the contents of the Bill was with his sanction; and whether he will take steps to prevent any recurrence of this?
§ Mr. E. BrownThe hon. Member's strictures are misplaced. The Unemployment Insurance Bill was obtainable in the Vote Office at 5 p.m. on 24th November, five hours before the broadcast statement was made.