HC Deb 19 March 1935 vol 299 c998
45. Mr. BERNAYS

asked the Prime Minister whether in recent years there have been any occasions when the Leaders of the Opposition have been invited to attend meetings of the Committee of Imperial Defence?

The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Ramsay MacDonald)

Yes, Sir. In 1930 and 1931 invitations were extended to members of the Opposition to attend meetings of the Committee and Sub-Committees of the Committee of Imperial Defence.

Mr. BERNAYS

Seeing that the Labour Government issued invitations to the Opposition to attend the meetings of the Committee of Imperial Defence, will His Majesty's Government consider the advisability of extending the same kind of invitation to the leaders of the present Oppositions?

Sir AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

Will the Prime Minister also say whether the invitations in 1930–31 were generally to attend and act as members of the Committee of Imperial Defence, or to attend only for a specific purpose?

The PRIME MINISTER

For a specific purpose only. There is no variation. There is only the question of when the invitations are to be issued.

Mr. MANDER

Are we to understand that since the National Government came in there has not been any occasion when it was thought advisable to invite the leaders of the Opposition to attend?

The PRIME MINISTER

Circumstances have not arisen.