§ Mr. Lees-SmithMay I ask the Lord Privy Seal whether he will state the forthcoming Business?
§ The Prime MinisterThe Business will be as follows:
On the first Sitting Day—Second Reading of the Fire Services (Emergency Provisions) Bill, and Committee stage of the necessary Money Resolution. In view of the urgent character of this Bill, we hope that the House will be agreeable to the necessary arrangements being made for all stages of the Measure to be taken on the same Sitting Day.
On the second Sitting Day—Supply (7th Allotted day): Committee. A Debate will take place on the Ministry of Supply in Secret Session.
On the third Sitting Day—Second Reading of the Finance Bill.
§ Mr. Lees-SmithIn regard to the Debate on the Ministry of Supply, will the Prime Minister secure the attendance of Ministers of related Departments, such as the Minister of Aircraft Production and the Minister of Labour, in case questions have to be put in which they are concerned?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir.
§ Sir Percy HarrisWill arrangements be made for the Minister of Labour, whose part is vital in supply if it is to be a success, to attend?
§ Sir H. WilliamsWill the Minister of Supply be able to deal with questions of priority covering all branches of war manufacture?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. I think we had better hear the speech the Minister makes and then any omissions from it can be the subject of fair comment.
§ Sir H. WilliamsI put my supplementary question because it is now 10 months since the Select Committee on National Expenditure drew attention to the need for an efficient system of priority, and also to the confusion which existed in respect of priority.
§ The Prime MinisterI am sure it will be possible to show to the House that there has been a very great improvement made during that time. It is not really a question of priority, but of allocation.
§ Mr. BevanIn view of the fact that every day allegations are made on the part of national administrators concerning the failure of production in many cases, does the Prime Minister think that public anxiety in these matters will be effectively allayed by a Private Session of the House of Commons? Ought not an opportunity be given for public Debate, particularly in view of the fact that it is the desire of many of us to try and collect sufficient public pressure to force or persuade the Government to take certain action which we think is desirable? How can we be expected to do that if all our Debates on these matters take place in Secret Session?
§ Sir I. AlberyAre the Government asking the House to agree to a Secret Session because they have statements to make which cannot be made in public?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir. So far as the Government are concerned, we should welcome a Public Session, but unhappily if a Public Session were held, we should not be able to make any statements of the precise character which would be of interest to the House and which are important factors in the formation of the judgment of the House. What we have to do is to tell the House all that can be told on these matters in Secret Session, and then the House will, according to whether it feels confidence or the reverse, convey assurance or alarm to the country.
§ Mr. BevanWill the Prime Minister be good enough to reply to the point I have made? In view of the fact that hundreds of thousands of workmen do know the actual facts of the situation, and in view of the fact that newspapers have quite rightly been betraying a great deal of anxiety about this, ought we not to have a Public Session to allay the anxiety?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not know that there is so much anxiety. I hope it will be shown that very great progress has been made. Anything more foolish than publicly to give our facts and figures in detail, which will go in a few hours to Lisbon and then be telegraphed immediately to Germany, I cannot imagine. We really must leave some work for the German Intelligence.
§ Sir I. AlberyIn view of the fact that this Question of Secret Sessions was discussed yesterday and that there appears to be some doubt as to the exact procedure which is followed, I desire to take the present opportunity of asking the Prime Minister whether he can say a little more definitely what the procedure will be in future. Was I correct in suggesting just now that the only occasions on which the Government will ask the House to go into Secret Session are occasions on which they wish to make some statement which they cannot make in Public Session?
§ The Prime MinisterAll that seems quite sound. It is not for the Government to say whether a Session should be in secret or in public, but, of course, if the House decide to have a Public Session they can have one, but Ministers will not be able to take part in them—or only a very crippled part.
§ Sir H. WilliamsIs it not the case that so far no Minister has ever yet told us in Secret Session anything which could not have been said in Public Session?
§ The Prime MinisterI think that observation indirectly reflects upon the decision of the House that reference is not to be made to the character of a Secret Session.
§ Mr. GranvilleIn view of the fact that there is a great deal of interest on this subject in the country and that there will be a large number of back benchers anxious to speak, and in view of the fact that we meet for only a few hours nowadays, would it be possible to allow that Debate to run on into the second day?
§ The Prime MinisterI am afraid that we cannot at this period of the Session give a second day. If a request was put forward in responsible quarters and with a large body of Members behind it, we might be forced to consider it, but we do not know that there is any reason for that.
§ Mr. ManderMay I ask the Prime Minister whether he will consider the advisability of extending the hour for the conclusion of the Business on the first Sitting Day in view of the fact that all stages of the Measure which is to be considered that day are to be concluded that day, and there may be discussions on the Committee stage?
§ The Prime MinisterWe shall have to do that in order to get our Bill. We will consider the question of the other Debate. I agree that we want as many Members as possible to take part in it.
§ Mr. GallacherThe Prime Minister has just said that in Secret Session Ministers would make a statement to the House and that on the basis of the information and the discussion which took place Members could then convey to the country whether there was a feeling of assurance or disquiet. Does that mean that after this Private Session we can go to the country and say what we have heard?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir, not at all. It would be quite impossible for Members to quote what had occurred or to give away any secret information imparted, but it would be equally impossible for them wholly to conceal their feelings whether of enthusiasm or the reverse.