§ 74. Mr. Cocksasked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the modern military theory that the effective reply to totalitarian war is a people-in-arms, he will take steps, as and when the requisite weapons become available, to arm the whole adult population of the country; and whether, in pursuance of this policy, he will, in the meantime, order the manufacture of hand grenades, which can be quickly produced, on the largest scale and organise a system of training the population in their use?
§ The Financial Secretary to the War Office (Mr. Richard Law)My hon. Friend can be assured that His Majesty's 228 Government will not neglect any measures which can properly and advantageously be taken to secure the defence of this country and its inhabitants.
§ Mr. CocksIs the hon. Gentleman aware that if you want people to stay in their homes and not to go into the roads, you must give them arms? If the War Office will not do that, will they consider arming all ex-Service men?
§ Mr. LawI would remind my hon. Friend that the Local Defence Volunteers exist and that any man between 17 and 65 can join. That should meet the point.