HC Deb 05 June 1930 vol 239 cc2386-8
Sir A. CHAMBERLAIN

May I, on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Leader of the Opposition, ask the Prime Minister whether he is now in a position to make any statement as to the position of the Government on the question of the construction of the Channel Tunnel?

The PRIME MINISTER

I intended to make a statement to-day, and it has been prepared, but, after reading it over, I found it so long that it could not very conveniently be given in reply to a question, and it occurred to me that it would suit the convenience of the House much better if I circulated it in the form of a White Paper. It is now in the printers' hands, and I think it will be circulated to-morrow. I may say that the decision of the Government will be found to be against the tunnel.

Colonel ASHLEY

Will the House be given an opportunity of discussing this question?

The PRIME MINISTER

I said yesterday that communications will be made on that subject through the usual channel.

Mr. CHURCHILL

I suppose the House may take it that this announcement by the right hon. Gentleman of the views which the Government have come to about the tunnel in no way abrogates the undertaking which the Prime Minister has given to the House that the whole matter shall be referred to a free vote of the House?

The PRIME MINISTER

I gave no such undertaking. What I said yesterday is what I have just said, that when communications are made through the usual channel in the ordinary way the Government will be willing to give whatever facilities the House wants for further discussion.

Mr. CHURCHILL

I think, if the Prime Minister will reflect, he will find that he said yesterday that it was the intention of the Government, or that the Government were perfectly willing, as the ultimate solution, to allow the House of Commons to have a free vote on this question.

The PRIME MINISTER

Quite the contrary. I gave my answer fully aware of the meaning which I put on the words, and in order to avoid stating what the right hon. Gentleman says I did say.

Mr. CHURCHILL

Is there to be absolutely no means by which the great volume of opinion, which has gathered on every side on this question in the country for so many years, is to obtain expression one way or the other in Parliament?

The PRIME MINISTER

The right hon. Gentleman has no business to put those words or that meaning into the words which I have uttered. I stated quite specifically yesterday, and I repeat it to-day, that if a debate is required or asked for the Government are willing to make preparations and arrangements for a debate.

Mr. CHURCHILL

Is that not a procedure which substitutes arrangements made by the leaders of parties and high authorities in confidential relations for the decision of Parliament upon a matter of this kind?

Colonel ASHLEY

May I say to the Prime Minister that he must not assume that, because my right hon. Friend says that he is in favour of the tunnel, there is not a great number of people on this side who are definitely against it?

The PRIME MINISTER

It happens that at the moment, and for the time being, I am mainly in charge of the time of the House, and, as I said yesterday, if the usual request is made for time, it is my duty to comply with it. At the same time, it is my duty to safeguard the time of the House if there is no authoritative demand made for that time.

Sir A. CHAMBERLAIN

Do I understand that the Prime Minister promises to find time for a discussion if it is desirable without insisting that it should take the form of a Vote of Censure on the Government? Some of us find ourselves in agreement with the decision to which the Government have come.

The PRIME MINISTER

I am perfectly well aware of the fact that division on this subject runs through at any rate two parties—[Interruption.]—I am not sure as to the third. I know that the party opposite is divided, and it would be an abuse if I insisted or arranged that, if the question is put to this House, it should be put in the form of a Vote of Censure on the Government. That certainly will not be done.

Mr. BROCKWAY

Arising out of the original answer, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether military reasons have prevented this facility?

Mr. SPEAKER

A debate has been promised on this matter—[Interruption.] I understood the Prime Minister to say that, if a debate was asked for, there would be a debate. We had better wait for that.

Mr. LAMBERT

I do not want to put any question in regard to debate, but only to ask whether the reasons for the decision to which the Government have come on this matter will be given in the White Paper?

The PRIME MINISTER

That was the reason why I found that the statement was getting inordinately long. The reasons will be given in the White Paper.