§
Amendment made: In line 13, after "Crown," insert:
to provide for the discipline and internal administration of certain Polish forces and to affirm the operation up to the passing of this Act of provision previously made therefore."[Mr. Ede.]
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read the Third time."
§ 3.5 a.m.
§ Mr. DribergI only rise for a few moments. I want to ask when we are going to have the long awaited and long promised speech by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War. Many hours ago the Home Secretary was asked a direct question by the hon. and gallant Member for Bexley (Major Bramall), and he said that the Secretary of State for War would answer in due course tonight. Later on I raised a point of Order, seated and covered, and you, Mr. Speaker, assured me that my right hon. Friend would be speaking in the course of the proceedings. Can my right hon. Friend now answer that question: when, and at what moment of time, was it realised that all this procedure had been illegal?
§ The Secretary of State for War (Mr. Bellenger)I do not know on what authority my right hon. Friend informed the House that I should be speaking. Certainly it was not on my authority and I am not in a position tonight to give my hon. Friend the information for which he has asked. If he places such importance 450 on this matter I will endeavour to give him the information in the form, perhaps, of a letter, if I may.
§ Mr. DribergThank you very much.