HC Deb 15 July 1941 vol 373 cc434-5
27. Mr. Bellenger

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the co-option of hon. Members of this House possessing military experience on the Standing Committee of Army Administration?

Mr. Law

Whilst, as the House is aware, my right hon. Friend is always glad to receive the views of hon. Members on any question of Army administration, he does not think that it is necessary for them to be specially co-opted to the Standing Committee on Army Administration for this purpose. As my hon. Friend is aware, the Committee as at present constituted is representative of both official and outside experience.

Mr. Bellenger

Is not the hon. Gentleman aware of the value of the considerable recent experience obtained by those hon. Members who have served in the Forces, and would it not be better to utilise them on this Committee, which is a purely Departmental Committee? Hon. Members know little about this Committee.

Mr. Law

My right hon. and gallant Friend is always very accessible to Members of this House and is anxious to avail himself of any information they have, but I think there would be some disadvantage in co-opting hon. Members on that Committee. If it was done in the case of the hon. Gentleman, for example, my right hon. and gallant Friend would lose the benefit of his advice in this House and of his animadversions in the Sunday Press.

Major Milner

Would the hon. Gentleman publish a list of those at present on this Committee for the information of the House?

Mr. Law

I imagine that the list has been published, but I will look into it. I do not think there would be any objections.