HC Deb 21 May 1958 vol 588 cc1281-2
21. Mr. Emrys Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Air what religious leaders were invited to attend the recent conference Prospect II.

The Under-Secretary of State for Air (Mr. Charles Ian Orr-Ewing)

Invitations were sent to members of the Advisory Board on Chaplaincy Services and to the Army Chaplain in charge of Jewish interests in the Royal Air Force. In addition, a few clergymen were invited in other capacities: for example, as members of the Air Cadet Councils.

Mr. Hughes

Were any religious leaders invited to discuss the religious implications of the H-bomb? Why were only ministers and clergymen who are suspected of not believing in the Sixth Commandment invited?

Mr. Orr-Ewing

These gentlemen were invited because the Churches themselves had nominated them as representatives on this Board. They give us a great deal of valuable assistance, and naturally we were anxious to have them present at this very important conference.

On the wider question, the Bishop of Maidstone, who is Bishop to the Forces and was there in his official capacity, made the point, without committing himself, that those who think it wrong to abandon the bomb do not take this view just from side-stepping the moral issues, but take it because, having faced up to the moral issues, they have come to the conclusion that the possession of the bomb is the lesser of two evils, and that invasion by forces like those of Communism, which distorts children's minds, is, in their opinion, worse than anything that could be done by violence.

Mr. Hughes

Could the Minister tell us why the Moderator of the Church of Scotland, who takes a very different view, was not invited?

Mr. Orr-Ewing

He is not a member of the Board.

Mr. Speaker

The Under-Secretary of State is not responsible for the views of the Moderator of the Church of Scotland.

Mr. Hughes

Surely, he is responsible for the personnel invited to this conference? My suggestion was that if a belligerent bishop was invited the pacifist Moderator should also have been invited.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member asked about the views of the Moderator of the Church of Scotland. It was not in connection with this meeting at all.