§ 49. Mr. Shinwellasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the desire of hon. Members to satisfy themselves that our defence against invasion is adequate, and that our production in arms and aircraft is being speeded up, he will afford an opportunity for hon. Members to inspect defences and factories at an early date?
§ 52. Colonel Wedgwoodasked the Prime Minister whether he will allow Members of Parliament to inspect the civil and military defences of their country, will facilitate such inspection, and will welcome reports from them?
§ The Prime MinisterThe Government would always desire to treat Members of the House with all possible consideration and courtesy, but no general right to inspect military defences, dockyards or secret munition factories has ever been claimed by the House for its individual Members, and I cannot think that any such departure should be taken at this time.
§ Mr. ShinwellDoes the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that the purport of my Question was not to claim the right 1000 to inspect factories where operations are conducted in secret or defences which ought not to be inspected by other than military authorities, but that hon. Members should have some opportunity, other than the assurances given by the Government, to see that our defences are in an adequate condition? Is he also aware that hon. Members did have an opportunity of seeing the defences in their own areas and occasionally were disquieted by what they saw?
§ The Prime MinisterI hoped that aspect of the hon. Gentleman's Question would be covered by what I said about treating Members of this House with all possible consideration and courtesy, and I do not mean that to be an empty form. I think there are many contacts between Members of this House and the Ministers representing the different Departments, and I wish it to be clearly understood that it is desirable to facilitate the necessary work of Members of Parliament, especially in their own constituencies, so far as this may be done.
§ Colonel WedgwoodIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that during the last war he himself gave me and other Members frequent opportunities of visiting the front in France? Are we not to be allowed to do the same here?
§ Captain BellengerDoes the right hon. Gentleman remember that when he was not in office himself he had very adequate facilities, more than other private Members, of going overseas, seeing the defences there and interviewing British generals?
§ The Prime MinisterI think that all these matters had better be decided in a spirit of the utmost good will.