65. Miss CAZALETasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the decision of the Hackney Borough Council not to allow notice boards and advertising spaces which are municipal property to be used for recruiting purposes, and further to discontinue from the end of the current year the privilege hitherto accorded to its employés of extra leave on full pay for the purpose of attending Territorial Army camps; and whether he will take up these matters with the council?
Mr. COOPERYes, Sir, I have seen references to this matter in the Press, but, while I regret the decision, I fear there is no action which I can usefully take. I trust, however, that this council and others who adopt a similar attitude 1396 to the Forces of the Crown, will realise in time the extent to which they and the civilian communities for which they are responsible are dependent on those Forces, and in particular on the Territorial Army, for their protection.
Miss CAZALETDoes the right hon. Gentleman not think that the time has arrived to ask hon. Members opposite whether they will state clearly what their policy is on the whole question of recruiting?
Mr. COOPERIt was stated by the Leader of the Opposition during the week at Derby, when he said that if we asked them to assist in the work of recruiting we should ask in vain.
§ Mr. SHINWELLThe right hon. Gentleman speaks of these municipal bodies realising in time. What does he mean? Does he expect some trouble to occur shortly?
§ Mr. CROSSLEYDoes he not mean that if we are strong we shall not be invaded?
§ Mr. THURTLEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that we on this side would not care to ask young men to commit their lives to the keeping of any other Government except a responsible Government?