HC Deb 18 October 1939 vol 352 cc878-81
Mr. Attlee

(by Private Notice) asked the Prime Minister whether in view of the general dissatisfaction expressed in the House yesterday on the subject of separation allowances and war pensions the Government are now prepared to reconsider the whole matter together with the personal injuries scheme?

The Prime Minister

The questions raised in the Debate yesterday to which the right hon. Gentleman has called my attention are being carefully considered by the Ministers concerned, but the right hon. Gentleman will, I know, appreciate that this must take a little time.

Mr. Attlee

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that there was great feeling about this question in the House yesterday and that there was criticism of the fact that there was no responsible Cabinet Minister present on the Treasury Bench until steps were taken to send for the Chancellor of the Exchequer? Will he arrange that on these occasions there shall be some one other than under Ministers who can report to the Prime Minister? Further, is he aware of the importance of this question of separation allowances as part of the war efforts of the country and as being absolutely essential to preserving the morale of our soldiers abroad?

The Prime Minister

As to the subjects discussed during the Debate, I have already said that they are being considered by the Ministers concerned. I fully realise the feeling of the House in this matter, and I can promise that it will be carefully considered. With regard to whether a Cabinet Minister should always be on the bench, I think the right hon. Gentleman will realise that we have only a small Cabinet now, and that the Members of the Cabinet are very fully employed with urgent matters arising out of the war. In these circumstances, I am sure the House will be willing to extend some indulgence if it is not always possible for one of them to be on the bench at all times. Subject to that consideration we shall try to see that there is proper representation on the Treasury Bench when important matters are discussed.

Mr. Attlee

Quite apart from the War Cabinet, which one might criticise as con- taining no one, apparently, who is charged with home affairs, there is the larger Cabinet, and is this House to be left now to Under-Secretries?

The Prime Minister

I do not know what the right hon. Gentleman means. There is no larger Cabinet.

Mr. Lawson

Is the Prime Minister aware that the House got the impression that the Cabinet and the Government regarded this as a trivial question?

The Prime Minister

I do not think they ought to have got that impression, and I do not think there was any reason for it.

Mr. Attlee

Do I understand that there are no meetings of the larger Cabinet but only of the smaller Cabinet now?

The Prime Minister

I said to the right hon. Gentleman that there was no larger Cabinet. There is only one Cabinet and that is the War Cabinet, but there are, of course, a number of Ministers responsible for their Departments.

Mr. Attlee

But there is a gradation between Ministers who have the larger responsibilities and Under-Secretaries, and this House is being left to Under-Secretaries.

Sir Archibald Sinclair

It was stated at Question Time that there is a Home Affairs Committee of the Cabinet. Is it not a fact that, during the whole of the Debate, which aroused very keen interest in all quarters of the House, and except for the short time when the Chancellor of the Exchequer was present, no Minister was present who could be regarded as of Cabinet rank, even if he were not a Member of the War Cabinet; and could not the Prime Minister arrange that, in such important Debates, there should be one or two Members of the Home Affairs Committee of the Cabinet present, besides the Minister in charge of the Department?

The Prime Minister

I cannot give a specific undertaking to the right hon. Gentleman but I certainly appreciate that the House would wish to have somebody in a responsible position present during Debates when important matters are under discussion. We shall, of course, try to arrange as far as possible for that to be done.

An Hon. Member

What about the allowances?

Mr. McGovern

Give us an effective Opposition and we shall get them.

Sir Joseph Nall

If any further Debate is arranged on these matters, could the two questions of pensions and serving men's allowances be debated separately, as the latter is of immediate and urgent importance?