HC Deb 19 June 1952 vol 502 cc1551-2
45. Mr. Peart

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the result of the Minister of Defence's visit to Korea.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Winston Churchill)

A full report to the House will be made on the return of the Minister of Defence and the Minister of State.

Mr. Peart

Will the Prime Minister see that this report is given to the House before it is given in another place, or that it is given simultaneously, so that there can be cross-examination on the Floor of the House?

The Prime Minister

Yes, Sir. I hope it may be possible to arrive at an exact synchronisation.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

Has the Prime Minister seen the statement made by Lord Alexander in which he has said that the British nation has been kept in ignorance of what has been going on in Korea? And if the British nation has been kept in ignorance of the situation in Korea, has not Her Majesty's Government some responsibility?

The Prime Minister

That is not the Question on the Order Paper.

48. Mr. Wyatt

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the Minister of Defence has been wearing military uniform during his tour of the Far East; and whether he will instruct Members of Her Majesty's Government to wear civilian dress while carrying out their official duties.

The Prime Minister

I was consulted on this point before Lord Alexander left and advised him to wear uniform when visiting troops in the battle zone in Korea. As a field marshal, Lord Alexander is permanently on the active list and this procedure was in every way correct.

Mr. Wyatt

Does not the Prime Minister realise that it is an ancient tradition in this country that the Services should be controlled by civilian Ministers? If the Minister of Defence visits the troops dressed in the uniform of a field marshal, how are they to know that he has come to exercise the control of the civil over the military and not, in fact, to take command in a military sense? Is not this exactly the sort of danger that my right hon. Friend the Leader of the Opposition warned the right hon. Gentleman against when he heard that he was about to appoint a field marshal as a member of the Cabinet?

The Prime Minister

If that was all I was warned against it does not amount to much. I should have thought that it was very reasonable and proper for the field marshal to wear his uniform when going into the battle zone. Indeed, I think that even from a practical point of view to have one civilian going around amid a mass of military officers might have attracted attention from the enemy air service. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] Certainly. In any case, the conduct was perfectly correct in every way. I might here confess to the House another case when the field marshal also wore his uniform at the Trooping the Colour.

Mr. Ian Harvey

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that, despite the views expressed by hon. Gentlemen opposite, it will give considerable confidence and satisfaction to the great mass of the people in this country that the present holder of this office, unlike his predecessor, is entitled to wear uniform?