§ 45. Sir I. Fraserasked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement on the results of the atom bomb tests in Australia.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Winston Churchill)I will certainly make a statement to the House upon this subject in the near future. Perhaps my hon. Friend will put a Question down on the matter next week.
§ Mr. BellengerMight I ask the Prime Minister, when he does make that statement, to include in it also, besides the military aspect of this matter, what I might term the civilian prospects, in view of the very large sums of money invested by British taxpayers in this experiment?
§ The Prime MinisterI will certainly consider that, more especially because very large sums of money were invested by the British taxpayer without the House of Commons having any information of the purposes in view.
§ Mr. ShinwellDoes that mean that the right hon. Gentleman intends furnishing the House and the public with the information?
§ The Prime MinisterI intend to furnish the House with the information which I think is desirable after the experts have returned from Australia and I have had an opportunity of conversing with them.
§ Mr. ShinwellDid not the right hon. Gentleman in his previous reply appear to indicate that it was improper not to furnish the House with the necessary information? I ask him in view of that insinuation, if he is prepared to give the House the information.
§ The Prime MinisterI think it was a striking episode.