HC Deb 26 February 1947 vol 433 cc2046-8
18. Mr. Skeffington-Lodge

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will give an assurance that no displaced person will be required to work against his will under the Germans.

Mr. J. Hynd

All employable displaced persons in the British zone of Germany are now liable for employment, including employment under Germans. Any displaced person who feels aggrieved by compulsory direction to particular work will have a right of appeal.

Mr. Stokes

Is not the answer the hon. Gentleman has now given a complete contradiction of the promises that have already been made? Is it not, in fact, making these people carry out the very work for which Hitler himself transplanted them?

Mr. Hynd

They are now being given an opportunity of earning a living, and they are protected against discriminatiou by any German or German authority. It is considered that this is a good thing.

Mr. Nicholson

How are the wages and conditions of work safeguarded?

Mr. Hynd

By the usual safeguards applied to those conditions in Germany.

Mr. Nicholson

I have never in all my political experience heard such an extraordinary answer.

Mr. Hynd

I would point out that my original answer said that they were liable to direction to employment, if necessary under Germans, and, therefore, would be subject to the same conditions safeguarding their employment as the Germans.

Mr. Byers

Is this an indication that the Labour Government now believe in the principle of the direction of labour?

Mr. Hynd

In the case of emergency, and in the German conditions, we have adopted the principle of direction of labour, as a condition of relief and maintenance; and we see no reason why it should not be extended to displaced persons.

Mr. S. Silverman

On a point of Order. I should I like your guidance on this, Mr. Speaker. The hon. Gentleman appears to be dealing with a matter of policy which, I find, he gave in a written answer on Wednesday, 10th February, when he was asked by the hon. and gallant Member for Buckingham (Flight-Lieut. Crawley) if he had any further statement to make concerning the future of displaced persons of the British zones of Germany and Austria. He then proceeded to make a statement covering more than a column and a half, in which there appears to be a fundamental change in our whole policy in this matter, which obviously is one of first-rate political importance. The point of Order want to raise with you, Sir, is whether that is the proper way to an nounce to the House a change of policy of this kind? Is there not an obligation on Ministers, if they are doing that, to do it openly and to seek a proper opportunity to do it in the House, instead of secreting it in this hole-and-corner way? The hon. Gentleman has not even referred to it in the answer he has given today.

Mr. Speaker

That statement may have been made in answer to a Parliamentary Question which may not have been reached—[HON. MEMBERS: It was."]—so that the answer would be printed in HANSARD.

Mr. Silverman

This is not one of those cases which appear in the Written Answers only because the questioner was not present to get an oral answer. it is true that an oral Question was put down, but the form of the answer shows quite clearly that the Minister always intended not to give his answer in public, but to give it as a circulated answer in HANSARD. I suggest to you, Sir, that it is quite outside the ordinary traditions of this House for important announcements of changes of policy to be made in that way.

Mr. Speaker

That is not a matter over which I have any control. It is a matter for the Minister himself.

Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Moore

Why should not these people be put under the Germans? Do not we, as displaced persons on this side, have to work under the Socialist Government?

Flight-Lieutenant Crawley

It was I who put down the Question, and, unfortunately, I was prevented from being here. As far as I was aware there was no intention of secrecy about the answer at all.

Mr. Stokes

Further to that point of Order, I know perfectly well that this was an arranged Question.

Flight-Lieutenant Crawley

indicated dissent.

Mr. Speaker

I gather the hon. and gallant Gentleman has stated that it was not an arranged Question.

Hon. Members

Was it?