§ 55. Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSONasked the Lord Privy Seal what Departments have sent in memoranda to the Cabinet in reply to the Geddes Committee?
Mr. CHAMBERLAIN (Leader of the House)No, Sir. It would be quite contrary to established practice to give any account of Cabinet Papers.
§ Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONDoes the right hon. Gentleman not think it fair that before the Debate on the Geddes Report takes place we should have the replies made by the Departments, in view of the fact that the Admiralty reply has already been made public?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINNo. The hon. Member is incorrect in supposing that the Paper published by the Admiralty was a Cabinet Paper. I have already said that it was not a Paper submitted to the Cabinet before publication. It would make Cabinet government impossible if all Papers submitted to the Cabinet for confidential information and guidance were called for by this House.
§ Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONDoes the right hon. Gentleman think that the publication of the Admiralty report was a gross breach of discipline?