§ 65. Mr. Wedgwoodasked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the danger of having in key positions in the various Services those who, at the commencement of the war, were members of the British Union of Fascists, he will communicate the list to the heads of the various Departments with a view to seeing that the risk to the State, in case of invasion, is eliminated?
§ Mr. PeakeThe considerations to which my right hon. Friend calls attention have not been overlooked, and he may be assured that all necessary steps are taken to guard against such risks.
§ Mr. WedgwoodWould the hon. Gentleman give an assurance that every Department chief has these lists before him, so that he can back up the hon. Gentleman's own Department in seeing that potentially dangerous people are not included?
§ Mr. PeakeI do not think it would be in the public interest to give details of 1506 the actual steps taken to guard against the risk which the right hon. Gentleman has in mind.
§ Mr. WedgwoodI want to know whether this one particular step has been taken, and whether those who were Fascists at the beginning of the war are known to the Departments in which they are employed.
§ Mr. PeakeIf I once began to tell the right hon. Gentleman what steps are taken by the Security Services, I should be making a precedent which might have very awkward repercussions.