§ 50. Sir H. Williamsasked the Minister of Production whether, having regard to the extensive details now being published of American war production he is prepared to give comparable figures of British war production?
§ Mr. LytteltonNo, Sir.
§ Sir H. WilliamsSince the United States and this country are engaged in the same 183 war, and since the right hon. Gentleman's opposite number has told us over the week-end the number of aeroplanes, the tonnage of shipping, the number of guns, the number of shells and the number of rounds of small arms ammunition, what is the sense of refusing the corresponding information to us on the ground that it would be against the public interest?
§ Mr. LytteltonI must not be held responsible for what is done in the United States, but it becomes still more important for us to be careful on matters of security, since if we also issued figures the total figures would be available to the enemy.
§ Sir H. WilliamsAfter what has been disclosed in America, does it call for a great deal of intelligence to deduce the rest, seeing that the Germans are no doubt able to calculate our man-power?
§ Mr. LytteltonIf the hon. Member knows the answer, why does he press me to give it?
§ Mr. StokesIs not the true answer that publication would cause the Government to reveal the true position in regard to tanks?