HC Deb 10 April 1956 vol 551 cc24-6
45. Mr. Bellenger

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to a lecture given by Lieut.-General Sir Ian Jacob at the Royal United Services Institute, of which details have been sent to him by the right hon. Member for Bassetlaw; whether he has considered the proposal by Lieut.-General Jacob that an examination of the desirability of a closer co-ordination of the three Armed Services should be undertaken; and whether he will set on foot such an inquiry on a scale similar to that carried out by the Esher Committee in relation to the War Office in the earlier part of this century.

The Prime Minister (Sir Anthony Eden)

I have read with interest the suggestions put forward by Sir Ian Jacob in his lecture to the Royal United Service Institution. As the House knows, I took certain steps last autumn to strengthen the position and powers of the Minister of Defence. I should prefer to allow sufficient time for the results of this action to be tested by experience before deciding whether further changes are needed.

Mr. Bellenger

Although the action taken by the right hon. Gentleman was a step forward in the right direction, is he not aware that there is a growing accumulation of opinion from experts that it is very necessary that not only the Ministry of Defence itself should be reorganised but also the three Services, in relation to integration; and does he not agree that evidence from Sir Ian Jacob, who has occupied a very high position, as the right hon. Gentleman knows, should not be cast aside lightly; and, therefore, an inquiry should take place at some time, even if not in this particular form?

The Prime Minister

I should certainly be the last to wish to cast aside evidence of Sir Ian Jacob, with whom I worked in the war, as other right hon. and hon. Members in this House did, nor is my mind closed to the project of an inquiry. I think that might be the right way to proceed, but I do not want to commit myself on this until I see more clearly the way we are going.

Mr. Shinwell

Is it not clear that the Minister of Defence has ample powers to effect what is called co-ordination of the three Services, but that that is an entirely different thing from integration of the three Services? Integration is a very formidable task to undertake, and it is very doubtful whether it should be undertaken, but co-ordination is in the hands of the Minister of Defence.

The Prime Minister

That is perfectly correct but I think it fair to say that the steps we took last autumn were with a view to long-term integration.

Mr. Callaghan

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are not many obvious signs yet that the increased powers, whatever they may be, given to Sir William Dickson, are producing any result; and will he tell us what period of time has to elapse before we can have his mind open once again to this question of an inquiry, for which some of us have been pressing for a long time?

The Prime Minister

I said that my mind was not closed. When we have taken steps like the ones we took last autumn, we must see how they are developing within the machine, and it would be unwise to take further steps until we have come to a conclusion. I would rather not commit myself at the present time.