HC Deb 19 November 1953 vol 520 cc1904-6
45. Mr. Peart

asked the Prime Minister which Minister will be responsible for the answering of questions concerning atomic energy in the House of Commons.

The Prime Minister (Sir Winston Churchill)

Subject to the usual procedure, the Order in Council transferring responsibilities from the Minister of Supply to the Lord President of the Council will take effect on 1st January. Until then, the existing arrangements will continue.

Thereafter, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply will answer only those Questions which relate to the development and production of atomic weapons for specific Service requirements.

Questions relating to the responsibilities transferred to the Lord President will be answered on his behalf by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works.

Mr. Peart

In view of the uncertainty of the Prime Minister on Tuesday, may I ask which Minister will be responsible in the interim period, because, on Tuesday, we had a reply from the Foreign Secretary and a reply from the Minister of Supply, and there was uncertainty in the Prime Minister's mind? Apart from that, is it not important that in future we should have a reply by a Minister directly responsible in this House?

The Prime Minister

I have said that, after 1st January, the Minister of Works will answer Questions here on this subject on behalf of the Lord President of the Council. [An HON. MEMBER: "Not good enough."] You do not like that; you do not like the House of Lords at all. That will be the arrangement which will be made, but, with regard to the making of atomic weapons by the Ministry of Supply, Questions on that subject will, as hitherto, be answered by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply.

Mr. G. Strauss

May I ask the Prime Minister how the Minister of Works will know anything at all about the industrial activities on atomic energy? Is he to be associated with the work of the Lord President of the Council in this matter, because, otherwise, it would appear that the answers will be made by a Minister having no responsibility for and no connection whatever with this enterprise? Would it not be very much better if the Minister of Supply were to answer both on the industrial and the weapon side of this business?

The Prime Minister

No, Sir. We have considered that a line should properly be drawn in this case, though not in every case, between research and supply.

Mr. Attlee

I understand that the Lord President of the Council is being placed in charge of this matter because it is a matter of major Government policy. Should not, therefore, the response in this House be made by a member of the Cabinet?

The Prime Minister

I think that the arrangement which has been made is the most convenient.

Brigadier Clarke

Does my right hon. Friend appreciate that the arrangement he has made is regarded on this side of the House as a great improvement on that made by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Walthamstow, West (Mr. Attlee), who was frightened to let his own people know that he was making atom bombs?