HC Deb 11 February 1958 vol 582 cc205-7
46. Mr. Chetwynd

asked the Prime Minister which Minister is now responsible for answering Parliamentary Questions on the siting of missile bases in this country.

Mr. R. A. Butler

I have been asked to reply.

Questions of general principle or policy will normally be answered by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence. Questions of detail relating, for example, to the selection of particular sites will normally be dealt with by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air.

Mr. Chetwynd

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this will only lead to confusion? Is he aware that only last week I originally addressed a Question to the Minister of Defence which was transferred to the Secretary of State for Air who, in a Written Answer, referred me to an answer given given the week before by the Minister of Defence? Are these arrangements meant to keep information from hon. Members or a potential enemy? Can the right hon. Gentleman use his good offices to make sure that when we put down Questions we shall get a reasonable kind of answer?

Mr. Butler

Yes. I have followed the maze in which the hon. Member has, unfortunately, become entangled. I have the dates of the various Questions here. I think that after this answer of mine today it should be clear that Questions on policy will be dealt with by the Minister of Defence and Questions of siting particular sites will be dealt with by the Secretary of State for Air. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will have a clear road.

Mr. Shinwell

Has the right hon. Gentleman not seen a report in a quite reputable newspaper, here and overseas, that General Norstad, the Supreme Commander in the West, is to determine where these missile bases are to be sited? How are we to ask Questions of General Norstad?

Mr. Butler

That raises an issue rather wider than the Question on the Order Paper, but I think the right hon. Gentleman would be satisfied if Questions are asked that Her Majesty's Government will be in a position to answer them.

Mr. S. Silverman

Was the right hon. Gentleman's original answer intended to cover those bases which are in the occupation of foreign Powers as well as those for which the Minister of Defence is responsible? If so, will he explain to the House under what authority bits of this country are handed over to foreign occupation in this way for use in this highly dangerous fashion?

Mr. Butler

That raises a wider question, which should be answered in reply to a specific Question on the Paper. The nature of the original Question was wide in character and did not specify bases of one sort of another.