§ 48. Mr. Gallacherasked the Prime Minister whether he has considered the resolution of the Lea Bridge Works Factory Committee, sent to him by the hon. Member for West Fife, demanding the removal from office of the Secretary of State for India and the liberation of the political leaders in India; and what reply he has made to this request?
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Churchill)Such matters hardly seem to fall within the province of the Lea Bridge Works Factory Committee, and I have accordingly directed that no answer should be sent to them.
§ Mr. GallacherWhile I cannot thank the Prime Minister for his low opinion of the Lea Bridge Works Committee, I would like to ask him if he is aware that the constituents of the Secretary of State for India repudiated him at a public meeting at Sparkbrook, and is he not aware that he would be meeting the wishes of the great mass of the people of this country if he advised the Secretary of State to vanish from the scene?
§ Mr. ShinwellSurely the right hon. Gentleman will not deny that it is one of our priceless democratic privileges that we should be entitled at any time to ask for the removal of a member of the Government?
§ The Prime MinisterCertainly, anyone is entitled to do that, but answers will be given by the Government, in the first instance at any rate, on the Floor of the House to Members of Parliament.
§ Mr. SorensenIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that this factory is in my constituency and holds him in the highest esteem and would equally esteem a reply from him?
§ The Prime MinisterPerhaps if they send me a communication on some subject on which they are specially qualified to express an opinion, I shall have the opportunity, which I should greatly value, of corresponding with them.