§ 50. Sir A. MARKHAMasked the Prime Minister whether, seeing that the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster stated at Dundee, on the 5th June, that if there is to be criticism on the conduct of the War this should be made in Parliament and that it was a right of Parliament to sit with closed doors, he will say whether, seeing this declaration by his colleague is contrary to his refusal of facilities to Parliament to sit behind closed doors, the right hon. Member for Dundee expressed the views of the Government; and, if so, will he now give an early day to the House for this purpose?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs at present advised, I do not think that any occasion has arisen for the adoption of this suggestion.
§ Sir A. MARKHAMAre we to take it that the statement made by the Chancellor of the Duchy was without the authority of the Prime Minister; and may I ask whether, in view of what has just been stated by the right hon. Gentleman, that it is not desirable to raise questions in the House, does he desire that the House of Commons should take no part in discussions about the War which he does not wish the House to take behind closed doors?
§ The PRIME MINISTERMy right hon. Friend is in the habit of making speeches without consulting anyone as to what he is going to say. That, I think, is a very good practice, and I hope it will be continued. What he said was hypothetical: 365 that a state of things might arise in which it might be desirable for this House to meet with closed doors. But I do not think that that occasion has yet arisen.
§ Sir A. MARKHAMHas the right hon. Gentleman seen the report of the speech in which the Chancellor definitely stated that if there was to be criticism it ought to be behind closed doors?
§ The PRIME MINISTERMy right hon. Friend did not say that.
§ Commander BELLAIRSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the hon. Member for Mansfield has himself supplied the strongest argument against the adoption of this course by saying there is a party in this House who are the friends of the Germans?
§ 52. Sir A. MARKHAMasked the Prime Minister whether, seeing that the Chancellor of the Duchy stated at Dundee on 5th June that the country was now on the high road to have 3,000,000 men in the service of the Crown as volunteers, he will say why, when the Government persistently refused to give this information to Parliament, the information was given to the constituents of the right hon. Member for Dundee; whether he authorised the Member for Dundee to make this declaration; whether he will now give the House the actual number of men enlisted since the War; and whether he will give an assurance that in no case will the number of men authorised by Parliament be exceeded without first obtaining further authority from Parliament?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am not aware that my right hon. Friend gave any information to his constituents on this point which was not before the public. The number of men which Parliament has authorised to be maintained for the Army and Navy is 3,250,000. This number will not be exceeded without the authority of Parliament.