52. Miss Wardasked the Minister of Production whether he will make a statement on the tank production programme?
§ Mr. LytteltonIf the hon. Lady is referring to the numbers of tanks for which we have planned, she will understand that it would not be in the public interest to give information of this kind. I can, however, assure the hon. Lady that a joint programme has been worked out between this country and the United States, under which each country will concentrate upon the production of certain main types.
Miss WardIs, it in the national interest that the Secretary of State for War should make an announcement? Was that announcement of policy made with the authorisation of the right hon. Gentleman? Why should the Secretary of State for War be allowed to make an announcement when my right hon. Friend is not?
§ Mr. LytteltonI think that the Secretary of State for War was referring to the quality of a certain type of tank. The Question put to me was whether I would make a statement on the tank production programme.
§ Mr. StephenIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that other statements have been made?
§ Mr. GranvilleIs it the responsibility of the right hon. Gentleman's Department to conduct an inquiry into the performance of the Churchill tank at Dieppe?
Mr. AstorCannot something be done to establish a closer liaison between the troops using these tanks and persons designing them, in order that the lessons of experience may be translated more quickly into production?
§ Mr. LytteltonIf the hon. Member will put a Question on the Paper, I can give an account of these liaison arrangements.
§ Mr. ShinwellWhy do we go on producing tanks when we know that they are quite unsatisfactory and have been proved to be defective in operation? Why do we go on doing so?
§ Mr. LytteltonI do not admit the premises upon which the hon. Member bases his first question.
§ Mr. ShinwellDoes not the right hon. Gentleman know, and had we not better face the facts, that many of the tanks which have been produced have proved to be defective in operation? Is not that fact well known?