asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the intention now with regard to the Consumers' Councils as provided for in the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act, 1946, in connection with the making public of the deliberations of these councils as a natural and necessary safeguard in the public interest.

Under the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act, 1946, the Coal Consumers Councils are to make annual reports to me, which I must then lay before Parliament.

In so far as these councils have been set up for the purposes of protecting consumer interests, and since, directly or indirectly, every member of the public is a consumer of coal, can my right hon. Friend see any valid reason why the work and deliberations of these councils should not be made public?

The publicity the councils give to their proceedings must be a matter for the councils themselves, and I do not propose to intervene in the matter.

Would not the simplest way be to hold the proceedings of these councils in public, where they can be reported in the Press, so that there is no doubt about what takes place?

It must be left to the councils themselves to decide.