§ Mr. AttleeMay I ask whether it is possible to arrange that the Foreign Secretary could be here to answer questions on a day when there are a large number of questions on very important matters put down to him?
§ The Prime MinisterMy right hon. Friend has had a long standing engagement, as all of us have at times, to speak at Liverpool to-night. In the course of this morning, I stopped him from going to Liverpool so that we might discuss these questions and that he might be here. He was prepared to cancel the meeting —always a difficult business as hon. and right hon. Gentlemen know, in view of the numbers that attend these large meetings—had the Adjournment been moved and not a day asked for. He had arranged that these questions should be taken to-day by the Under-Secretary, who has devoted great care and attention to them. My right hon. Friend had work to do in connection with preparing his answers and discussing the question that has arisen. Whatever responsibility there may be for his absence is just as much mine as his.
§ Mr. AttleeWe had no notification of any reason for the absence of the Foreign Secretary to-day. One always realises that the Foreign Secretary is naturally liable to be called away on Foreign Office business, but we had no notice whatever of any reason why he should not be present.
§ The Prime MinisterI should like to say in answer to that, that while I appreciate the point, I do not think that is an invariable rule, because I know when I have been in a position to make that inquiry if I find that the Minister is not in his place I have assumed that there are good and satisfactory reasons.