HC Deb 09 April 1952 vol 498 cc2735-6
47. Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence how many outside lecturers have been invited to speak at the Imperial Staff College in the past six months; and what were the subjects on which they spoke.

Mr. Birch

Thirty-seven outside lecturers addressed the students at the Imperial Defence College during the six months ending 31st March, 1952.

Apart from those of a military nature, the talks covered the main aspects of national and international affairs.

Mr. Hamilton

Is it not a fact that Mr. Arthur Horner addressed the Imperial Staff College on Communism? While I appreciate the desirability of fostering friendly relations between officials in the various nationalised industries, can the Minister indicate the consistency in a policy which sends a man to instruct Army officers on Communism and which denies Mr. Edgar Young the use of naval uniform for propagating Communism?

Mr. Birch

One of the subjects studied at the Imperial Defence College is very naturally Communism and the cold war, and I imagine that it was thought, when this gentleman was asked to lecture there, it might be valuable to hear something, as it were, from the horse's mouth. This, in fact, is one of the obligations for which we are indebted to the late Government, because Mr. Horner has lectured there several times before.

Mr. Hamilton

Would the Minister invite Mr. Edgar Young to give a talk to the Navy?

Lord John Hope

Did Mr. Horner get paid for his services and, if so, how much?

Mr. Birch

Mr. Homer has been paid for his services, but it is not the usual custom to disclose the amount paid to individual lecturers.