§ 48. Sir W. Smithersasked the Lord President of the Council whether the recent stoppages of work on the Festival of Britain buildings will affect the proposed opening on 4th May.
§ The Lord President of the Council (Mr. Herbert Morrison)I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Dartford (Mr. Dodds) on 21st February.
§ Sir W. SmithersDoes the Lord President think that the Festival will open on 4th May?
§ Mr. MorrisonI have answered that already, too.
§ 49. Mr. Sidney Marshallasked the Lord President of the Council whether he will defer the opening of the Festival of Britain from 4th May in view of the continuance of the war in Korea.
§ Mr. H. MorrisonI see no adequate reason to defer the opening in view of the continuance of the war in Korea, since the national preparations and those of more than 1,000 local authorities and many voluntary bodies are so well advanced. Nor do I accept the implication that this is an inappropriate time for us to proclaim to the world our achievements, what we aim to achieve in the future and the sort of people we are.
§ Mr. MarshallDoes the right hon. Gentleman not agree that it would be a very unfortunate and unhappy thing to open the Festival while British blood is being shed in Korea?
§ Mr. MorrisonWe have discussed this, and we have had a Bill before Parliament. A decision has been reached, and it is time that hon. Members on the back benches opposite stopped their attempt to sabotage this great Festival.
§ Mr. Sydney SilvermanHas my right hon. Friend considered that he can completely satisfy the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. S. Marshall) and a great many other people as well if only he will bring about the cessation of hostilities in Korea before 4th May?