HC Deb 14 November 1945 vol 415 cc2110-1
45. Mr. Hogg

asked the Prime Minister whether he will give an assurance that in no case will information requested from the Government be withheld from Members of the House of Commons except in the interests of military security.

Mr. Herbert Morrison

No. Sir. The Government do not intend to withhold information unnecesarily, but no Government would give the sweeping assurance for which the hon. Member asks.

Mr. Hogg

Can the right hon. Gentleman say on what principle it is proposed to withhold information from the House?

Mr. Morrison

The passion of the hon. Gentleman for uniformity is very shocking. This is a matter that cannot be judged by Standing Orders; it must be judged on the merits of each case. There is a whole range of matters on which it would not be proper to give information to the House, at any rate at a certain stage.

Mr. Hogg

Am I to understand that there are no principles, but that each case is separately decided?

Mr. Morrison

There are certain principles. The hon. Gentleman's experience of responsible administration is limited, but in order to help him, I will give him a few examples that have occurred to my mind and which I have noted down. It would obviously be harmful to have premature disclosure of discussions with other Governments on Foreign Affairs, or the disclosure of information which might be embarrassing to other Governments. It would be wrong to disclose the Government's intentions before policy is formulated on domestic affairs, and it would be wrong to anticipate the Budget.

Lieut.-Colonel Dower

The right hon. Gentleman is wrong every time.

Mr. Morrison

It would be very nice to find an occasion when the hon. and gallant Gentleman was right. Finally, it would be unwise to disclose the composition or proceedings of Cabinet meetings. I present these examples to the hon. Gentleman as further material on which he might try to sharpen his teeth.

Mr. Hogg

Will the right hon. Gentleman, in the exercise of his usual courtesy, tell us if one of the principles at present being operated is that information which might be embarrassing to this Government is being withheld?

Mr. Morrison

This Government would never think of descending to such depths.

Sir G. Fox

What about the quantity of petrol stocks?