HC Deb 01 February 1937 vol 319 cc1288-90
Sir Francis Acland

(by Private Notice) asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to a statement made by the Secretary of State for War at Folkestone on Thursday, 28th January, in defending the recent dismissal of five dockyard workers, that it must be apparent that if men holding such peculiar beliefs as Communism can commit crimes such as have been mentioned in the course of recent prosecutions in Moscow, such men ought certainly not to be employed in positions of trust and responsibility in Government positions here; whether this statement represents the policy of the Government, and it is therefore intended to discharge men holding the Communist belief who occupy such positions?

The Prime Minister

The policy of the Government was clearly stated by my right hon. Friend the First Lord of the Admiralty in reply to a Private Notice question by the Leader of the Opposition on 10th January, in the course of which he said that the political views of a dockyard employé are his personal affair. As long as his work is satisfactory and his politics neither interfere with it nor lead to courses that will endanger the Navy and the State, there never has been, nor should there be, any interference with him."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 19th January, 1937; col. 36, Vol. 319.] This was emphasised in the course of the Debate on 26th January.

Sir F. Acland

May I thank the Prime Minister for reassuring the House that the statement of the Secretary of State for War involves no change in policy?

Mr. Kelly

Are we to take it from the statement which we have just heard read,

that the political opinions of these five men were under investigation?

The Prime Minister

Not that I am aware of.

Mr. Thorne

Does not this mean that your Ministers ought to be a little more careful about what they say?

The Prime Minister

Perhaps the hon. Member will wait until he is head of a Government.

Mr. Thorne

Perhaps I may be some day.