§ Major PRICE(by Private Notice) asked the Prime Minister whether the Government are prepared to grant, at an early date, time for a discussion on their decision to discontinue the use of Pembroke as an active Naval dockyard and to reduce it to a care and maintenance basis.
§ The PRIME MINISTERIt is too early at the moment to say whether an opportunity can be found for this discussion.
§ Major PRICECan the Prime Minister say whether discharges will be discontinued until the House has had an opportunity of discussing the matter?
§ The PRIME MINISTERMy hon. Friend must see that on the first day of the meeting of Parliament the answer I have given is the only one possible. There will be a number of subjects which can be debated, and a few days must elapse before the Government have had time to see how far they will be able to gratify the wishes of Members.
§ Major HORE-BELISHAWould the right hon. Gentleman say now exactly what the position of the Government is, seeing that it has been varied once or twice during the Recess?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am afraid that would lead to a speech. The matter has been published very fully, and if the hon. Member desires any further information, I would suggest that he put down a question to the First Lord of the Admiralty.
§ Mr. W. THORNEIs it a fact that the Government have come to a definite decision?
§ Mr. STEPHENCould the Prime Minister not arrange to hold up these discharges for a few days, until he is able to make a definite decision. Cannot I have an answer to my question? [HON. MEMBERS: "Answer!"]
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe hon. Member, when he has been longer in the House, will realise that it is not unusual to wait for two or three questions on the same subject in order that a Minister may reply to them together and save time. My answer to the question he has just asked has been made.
§ Captain GARRO-JONESMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman what he considers is the value of our principle of representative government if a decision may be reached on such an important subject—
§ Mr. SPEAKERMr. Hurd. [See col. 11—Locarno Pact—Mr. Hurd's private notice. Question.]