HC Deb 23 January 1951 vol 483 cc7-8
13. Sir Waldron Smithers

asked the Secretary of State for War the extent of, and the number of, people employed in the educational courses organised in the Army for the study of Communist ideology and tactics.

Mr. Strachey

No specific courses on this subject are organised in the Army. The hon. Member may have in mind a recent five-day course on international relations organised by the London Services Education Committee, under the title, "The Communist Attack in the Contemporary World."

Sir W. Smithers

Will the Secretary of State for War give the House an assurance that these courses will not be used for Communist propaganda, at which he was in the old days a first-class adept?

Mr. Speaker

These personal matters are really out of order in supplementary questions.

Sir W. Smithers

On a point of order—

Mr. Speaker

I have the words here. Imputations and insinuations are not allowed at Question time and are very much to be deprecated.

Sir W. Smithers

On a point of order. It is a plain statement of fact. He was a Communist propagandist.

Mr. Speaker

We will pass from that to the next Question.