§ 24. Mr. JOHN WILMOTasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that an official circular issued by the Ministry refers to the Government as "the National Government" and refers to the Minister by name; and whether his Department has been authorised to use the term "National" in designating the Government?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAThe circular of 5th February follows the language of, and makes quotations from, my speech at Birmingham in which I announced that the National Government had decided on a five-year plan for the roads.
§ Mr. WILMOTDo the hon. Gentleman and His Majesty's Government regard it as a desirable practice to include a political appellation in a reference to the Government and repeated references to the particular Minister by name in official circulars issued to local authorities?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAWith regard to the latter part of the question, of course that is quite traditional and essential. There is no other way of dealing with them. As regards the first part of the question, I will certainly take note of what my hon. Friend said.
§ Mr. WILMOTWill the hon. Gentleman refer to his Department and ascertain whether it has not in fact been the practice of all previous Governments to refer to the Government as "His Majesty's Government" and to refer to 376 the Minister of Transport as "the Minister"?
§ Mr. LANSBURYMay I ask the Lord President of the Council whether he really agrees that in an official document issued in the name of the Government we should depart from precedent and call it the Tory Government, or the Liberal Government, or the Labour Government, or the Socialist Government? Does he think it right that when an official document is issued the words "the National Government" instead of "His Majesty's Government" should be inserted in these circulars?
§ The LORD PRESIDENT of the COUNCIL (Mr. Baldwin)Not having had notice of that question, all I would say is that I was not aware that the practice to which the hon. Gentleman alludes ever was followed.
§ Mr. LANSBURYI think the right hon. Gentleman does not do himself justice. He was present when we raised this question in reference to the White Paper on armaments, and the hon. Gentleman just now—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is hardly for Question Time.
§ Mr. LANSBURYOn a point of Order. This is a matter of constitutional usage, and are we not entitled to ask the Lord President, as representing the Government, whether this very bad practice shall be put an end to?
§ Mr. SPEAKERYes, but the right hon. Gentleman must not do so by making a speech at Question Time.
§ Mr. LANSBURYI apologise for attempting to make a speech on the subject, but the difficulty always is to know exactly how to put it. I think my last question was a question to the right hon. Gentleman, and I ask him to answer it.
§ Mr. BALDWINI have not the least objection. It is obvious, I think, from what passed the other day that in that particular instance an error was committed—I admit it quite frankly—and it ought to have said "His Majesty's Government." There is no doubt at all about that, but I am not aware of its being the practice with regard to the issue of circulars, beyond what I have heard in the question to-day, of which I have no knowledge.