§ 50. Mr. Caryasked the Prime Minister whether he will give the House more specific information in regard to the serious gaps which have been shown to exist in our defences and the nature of the steps which have been taken to repair such deficiencies; and, further, whether His Majesty's Government has received assurances from the trade unions in Great Britain and from all the Dominion governments oversea that they are prepared to co-operate to the limit of their capacity in bringing our system of defences to a satisfactory point with the least possible delay?
51. Miss Wardasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that there are responsible industrial companies who feel that full advantage has not been taken of their willingness to co-operate in the rearmament programme; and whether he will consider taking immediate steps to set up a liaison committee of industrialists whose business it would be to receive offers of co-operation and relate these offers to the needs of the Defence Departments?
§ The Prime MinisterIt is proposed that a full statement should be made on 26 Defence at the first convenient opportunity in the new Session of Parliament. I would ask hon. Members to await this statement, which will deal comprehensively with the steps which His Majesty's Government have taken and are taking in regard to Defence, matters generally.
§ Mr. CaryWill my right hon. Friend consider the advisability of issuing a White Paper on Defence to coincide with the Debate on the Address?
§ The Prime MinisterI will think about that.
§ Mr. Garro JonesCan the Prime Minister assure the House that any further statement will be more ingenuous and explicit than past White Papers on Defence have been?
§ 71. Mr. Shinwellasked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence whether he is satisfied that the Service Departments are adequately prepared to defend our commitments at home arid abroad?
§ The Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence (Sir Thomas Inskip)I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to earlier questions to-day by my hon. Friends the Members for Eccles (Mr. Cary) and Wallsend (Miss Ward).