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Mr. Peter Francis

I accept entirely that my hon. Friend cannot force the council, as I mentioned, to publish Mr. Bradbury’s report, but inevitably there will be a belief that there is a cover-up before the local elections. It is to the advantage of the ruling party not to have a report that is likely to be critical. How can it not be critical, bearing in mind the fact that the council has accepted responsibility for unfair dismissal and disability discrimination, and has given compensation? Among many people in the borough—I am sure that my right hon. Friend the Member for Walsall, South (Mr. George) will agree—there is a belief that there has been a cover-up before the election, because the Tories simply do not want the truth to come out.