§ 45. Mr. PERKINSasked the Prime Minister whether he will give an assurance that, before any increases are made in any of the defence estimates, the Government will consider the question of amalgamating the three services under one Minister?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Ramsay MacDonald)I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on the 31st May last in reply to a similar question by my hon. and gallant Friend, the Member for Ludlow (Lieut.-Colonel Windsor-Clive).
§ Mr. PERKINSWill the Prime Minister explain the statement made last night by the Lord President of the Council in which he said that these Estimates would be examined on the basis of a united defence of this country?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI think the statement is so clear that it requires no explanation. It refers to a slightly different matter.
§ 47. Brigadier-General NATIONasked the Prime Minister whether there is any Government or other body charged with the duty of co-ordinating the annual Estimates of the three fighting services with a view to allotting the available funds in accordance with the defensive value of each service?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs my hon. and gallant Friend will appreciate, the subject of his question involves important considerations of policy. The Estimates 1046 are examined by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in consultation with his colleagues in charge of the Defence Departments, though of course the final decision on main lines of policy rests with the Cabinet. Naturally the criterion alluded to in the question is at all times carefully borne in mind.
§ Brigadier-General NATIONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in Italy one minister controls six Government departments, and does he not think that there is one man in this country who can co-ordinate the work of three departments and so conduce to greater efficiency and increased economy
§ Mr. LAMBERTAre not these Estimates scrutinised by the Commitee of Imperial Defence?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWithout notice of that question, I will say that I do not think the Estimates themselves are so scrutinised, but all the considerations which allocate sums of money to the various Departments are reviewed by the Committee of Imperial Defence.
§ Lieut.-Commander AGNEWIs the Prime Minister a member of the Committee of Imperial Defence
§ Mr. LANSBURYIn view of the statement made by the Lord President of the Council last night, that there would be an opportunity of discussing the Estimates for the three Services together—at least most Members of the House understood the right hon. Gentleman to say that—I would like the Prime Minister to know that I shall ask a question about it later.
§ The PRIME MINISTERVery good.