HC Deb 15 July 1941 vol 373 cc450-1
45. Sir Herbert Williams

asked the Prime Minister the reason for printing as a Command Paper [Cmd. 6289] the report of a speech made at a public meeting by a Minister of the Crown?

The Lord President of the Council (Sir John Anderson)

It was ascertained that such a course would be agreeable to a number of hon. Members, and in view of the nature of the speech in question, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister thinks it fitting that it should have been printed as a Command Paper.

Sir H. Williams

Will the Lord President say which hon. Members were consulted? Is there any precedent for a speech made by a Minister of the Crown at a public meeting being subsequently printed as a Parliamentary paper?

Mr. Noel-Baker

Is it not a fact that in the speech the Foreign Secretary made statements of the highest possible: importance on policy on behalf of His Majesty's Government, and that these statements were not reported either in the public Press or on the wireless? Is it not a fact it was highly desirable that hon. Members and members of the Press and foreign Press should have the full text available for their use?

Sir J. Anderson

I think that is a consideration which weighed, and in this way a copy of a very important speech was made available in the most convenient form.

Sir H. Williams

Having regard to the fact that the right hon. Gentleman has answered the second supplementary question, will he please answer my supplementary question?

Sir J. Anderson

The first part of my hon. Friend's Question asked who were the hon. Members whose views had been ascertained. I cannot answer that offhand, but I will obtain the information and let my hon. Friend know.

Sir H. Williams

As the usual channels are now rather numerous, is it not desirable, before a precedent of this kind is created, that the sanction of the House should be obtained as a whole, because, after all, if one Minister's speech is to be printed, why should not speeches made by other Members be printed as well if they contain important statements?

Sir J. Anderson

I do not think it is correct to say that the action taken was unprecedented. I confess I cannot see any reason why any hon. Member whose convenience may be served by this procedure should complain. There are two other very important speeches, one delivered by the late Lord Lothian and another by Lord Halifax—

Sir H. Williams

Not in this country.

Sir J. Anderson

It is true they were not made in this country, but these speeches have been printed as Command Papers. The speech to which reference has been made was a speech of considerable importance made by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

Mr. Noel-Baker

Perhaps I may explain. A few days after this speech was made—[Interruption.]

Mr. Silverman

On a point of Order. In view of the fact that I have made attempts to put a Supplementary Question on this very important matter ever since the first Question was asked, and that I gave way when I thought—

Mr. Speaker

rose—