HC Deb 16 December 1943 vol 395 cc1704-5W
Sir H. Williams

asked the Minister of Labour why the Report of the National Conference of Women, called by His Majesty's Government on 28th September, contains replies to so small a percentage of the questions asked; and who decided which of the questions asked should be answered?

Mr. Bevin

Room has been found in the report for as many answers as possible in view of necessary limitations on the amount of paper. They were selected by the Departments responsible on the principle that the answers in the report should cover the topics on which the most numerous questions had been asked. In the case of my Department the answers cover points raised in some 300 questions. Questions not answered in the report have been dealt with by individual answer to the questioner where identifying particulars were given.

Sir H. Williams

asked the Minister of Labour why it took more than two months to produce the Report of the speeches and of the questions and answers at the National Conference of Women on 28th September, having regard to the fact that the report of a day's Sitting in the House of Commons is available in war-time within 15 hours?

Mr. Bevin

A report of the speeches was issued to the Press on the evening of the Conference. The printed report involved a good deal of additional work, including the sorting of the large number of questions which had been handed in and the preparation of adequate answers. I did not feel justified in giving the degree of priority to this work or to the actual printing, which would have been necessary for earlier publication.