HC Deb 07 July 1942 vol 381 c629
31. Mr. Keeling

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he was consulted before the then Minister of Production announced that a new heavy gun mounted on tanks and anti-tank carriages was in excellent production and would penetrate the armour of the German and Italian tanks; and whether he has any knowledge that the enemy had any particulars of this gun before these particulars were so announced?

Sir J. Grigg

I do not know what consultations took place between my predecessor and the former Minister of Production in regard to the latter's speech on I2th February. I do not think that this contained any information which was of assistance to the enemy.

Mr. Keeling

Did not this announcement by Lord Beaverbrook give the enemy four to five months in which to thicken the armour of their tanks?

Mr. Shinwell

While the right hon. Gentleman was at the War Office in February last, was he not aware of any consultation between the then Secretary of State for War and the noble Lord?

Sir J. Grigg

That is contained in my answer. I do not know what consultations took place.

Sir P. Hannon

Was not this information published in the United States before it was published here?

Sir J. Grigg

I do not know.

Mr. McKinlay

I take it that this was, then, one occasion on which the right hon. Gentleman, while still in the Civil Service, was not consulted as to the policy of the War Office?

Sir J. Grigg

It was not a question of the policy of the War Office. It was a question of what should be said in a Debate in another place.

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