HC Deb 10 May 1954 vol 527 cc847-8
38. Mr. S. Silverman

asked the Minister of Supply what would be the estimated cost of manufacturing in this country a hydrogen bomb of equivalent destructive power to that most recently exploded by the United States of America in the Pacific Ocean.

Mr. Sandys

Unless the hon. Gentleman is able to give me particulars of the performance of the American hydrogen bomb to which he refers, I could not estimate the cost of manufacturing it. In any case, it would not be desirable to make this information public.

Mr. Silverman

Is the House to understand from the right hon. Gentleman's answer that there exists in his Department no estimate at all about what kind of bomb was exploded experimentally by the United States of America in the Pacific, and that there has been no attempt whatever to estimate the cost of producing such a bomb in this country? Further, may I ask him whether, on the assumption that such a bomb would at least cost something, he has consulted the Chancellor of the Exchequer to see how far the proposal to make it in this country is consistent with the Chancellor's declared intention of reducing our expenditure on armaments?

Mr. Sandys

I hope nobody will attempt to deduce anything from my answer, which was intended to be purely evasive.

Mr. Silverman

On a point of order. In view of the last remark by the Minister, may I ask for your guidance, Sir? I wholly appreciate that a Minister is under no obligation to answer Questions at all, and that it is perfectly open to him either to give no answer or to say, in set terms, that a Question is not one that he feels he ought to answer. But is it not an abuse of the procedure of the House for a Minister openly to confess that he pretended to answer a Question that he had no intention of answering?

Mr. Speaker

I have heard defensive answers given in the past on many occasions by Ministers from both sides of the House. As regards the extra point of confessing that it was evasive, I have heard that open confession is said to be good for the soul.

Mr. Gower

Has the Minister any information about the estimated cost of preparing an atom bomb of similar destructive power to that which was most recently exploded by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics?

Mr. Marlowe

Further to the point of order raised by the hon. Member for Nelson and Colne (Mr. S. Silverman). Could not the matter which the hon. Gentleman raised be referred to the Minister of Supply, who could write a private note to the hon. Member for Nelson and Colne and he could hand it up to you, and then we should all know where we are?

Mr. Speaker

I do not think I would approve of such a procedure.