HC Deb 16 June 1942 vol 380 cc1377-8
45. Lieut.-Colonel Elliot

asked the Prime Minister, whether he will give an assurance that, in any readjustment of the relations between the various countries of the British Commonwealth of Nations, no steps have been or will be taken without full consultation with the responsible Ministers, which include the breaking up of the unity of the British Parliament into separate Parliaments for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, or the transfer of the British Parliament outside the United Kingdom?

The Deputy Prime Minister (Mr. Attlee)

Yes, Sir. My right hon. and gallant Friend is presumably referring to a speech made in another place on 4th June when the Minister of Economic Warfare intimated his view that such subjects, among others, were worthy of post-war consideration; but the Minister made it plain that he was speaking only for himself, and that the subject was not being even considered in any quarter.

Lieut.-Colonel Elliot

Are we to understand that the statement was made without any previous consultation with any of the responsible Ministers concerned?

Mr. Attlee

I think the statement was made in the course of a rather wide-ranging Debate and was not a matter of consultation with other Ministers.

Lieut.-Colonel Elliot

Will the War Cabinet convey to the Ministers that it is very inadvisable to make statements of this character and then to have them subsequently disavowed, which casts doubt on the validity of other and perhaps more important statements?

Mr. Attlee

I can assure my right hon. and gallant Friend that his point will be duly noted.

Mr. Shinwell

Are we to understand that Ministers of the Crown can make irresponsible statements of this character and get away with them? Is it not true to say that the same Minister has been, over a period of years, responsible for many other indiscretions?