HC Deb 11 July 1946 vol 425 cc569-70
46. Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre

asked the Prime Minister why it is the policy of His Majesty's Government to announce the date of the next General Election at this early date.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Attlee)

I assume the hon. and gallant Member has in mind certain remarks contained in a recent speech by my right hon. Friend the Minister of National Insurance. My right hon. Friend's statement referred to a suggestion made by certain of our opponents that the Government would not last for five years. To this my right hon. Friend replied that he preferred the forecast of my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal. This had reference to a remark made by the Lord Privy Seal that an election might be held in "the merry month of May" in 1950—a remark which clearly was not intended as a statement of Government policy.

Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre

Are we to understand from that answer by the Prime Minister that apart from the merry month of May, it is a case of the merry Minister of National Insurance?

The Prime Minister

No, 1 think the implication is that Members ought to realise what are the occasions for solemn pronouncements on Government policy and what are the occasions for remarks such as we all make sometimes rather more lightly.

Mr. Skeffington-Lodge

Should not the Opposition be extremely grateful for the courtesy of a hint as to how long they have got in which to recover themselves?

Mr. Quintin Hogg

Was this humorous pronouncement as firm and reliable as that other statement by the Minister of Education about bread rationing?