HC Deb 25 March 1941 vol 370 cc427-8
49. Mr. Garro Jones

asked the Prime Minister which Minister, or what Department, has responsibility for liaison or cooperation between the intelligence, counter-intelligence and secret services maintained by many different Departments; and whether he can give the House an assurance that this far-reaching branch of our war effort is under proper Ministerial supervision?

M. Attlee

My right hon. Friend can readily give the House the assurance asked for in the second part of the Question; as regards the first part, he regrets that it would not be in the national interest to give the information requested by the hon. Member.

Mr. Garro Jones

In view of the fact that this information has previously been given and that the Minister has since been changed, could any public interest be damaged by giving the information asked for now?

Mr. Attlee

I cannot add anything to the answer I have already given.

Mr. Culverwell

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a great waste of time, labour and personnel in the tremendous amount of overlapping in the services of these different Departments, and will he look into this matter?

Mr. Attlee

If the hon. Member will give me the information, I will look into it.