HC Deb 11 November 1959 vol 613 cc381-3
10. Mr. S. Silverman

asked the Minister of Defence whether his conversations with the Secretary of State for the Home Department to co-ordinate the policies of their respective Departments concerning defence in case of nuclear attack are yet concluded; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Watkinson

Matters of this kind are dealt with by the normal processes of consultation within the Government. I have therefore no statement to make.

Mr. Silverman

While fully appreciating the fact that the right hon. Gentleman has not been very long in his Department, may I ask whether he will not look at the statements made by his predecessor and by the Home Secretary in the House, both in the course of considered policy statements and in reply to Questions? Is he not aware that his predecessor repeatedly declared, in the most categorical terms, that there was no possibility of defending the civil population of this country in the case of nuclear attack and that therefore defence would have to be limited to the airfield—[HON. MEMBERS: "Speech."]—whereas the Home Secretary, when he was asked what bearing this statement had on civil policy, said in the House in reply to a Question by me—[HON. MEMBERS: "Order."]—that consultations were taking place between his Department and the Ministry of Defence in order to reconcile the obvious conflict between the two Departments, and that when these consultations—

Mr. Osborne

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker, can you possibly give hon. Members an indication as to how they will have a chance to put their later Questions to Ministers when an hon. Member makes a speech like this?

Mr. Speaker

I will make this observation to hon. Members. They will all realise that long supplementary questions are very inconsiderate to hon. Members who have Questions following.

Mr. Silverman

I apologise for the length of this supplementary question, but I think you will see how necessary it was when I say that, at the end of that statement, the Home Secretary promised the House that when the consultations were completed he would make a statement. It was because of that promise that I directed this Question to the right hon. Gentleman.

Mr. Watkinson

The hon. Gentleman himself, by the possibly justifiable length of his supplementary question, has shown how complicated a matter this is. It is certainly not for me to add to the complications at Question Time.

Mr. Silverman

rose

Mr. Speaker

Does the hon. Gentleman wish to raise a point of order?

Mr. Silverman

Yes, Sir. The only question that I directed to the Minister was whether he would make a statement. I have not had an answer, except the one to which I directed a supplementary question. It is not an answer to state that the Minister would not want to add to the complications at Question Time. I asked him whether he was ready to make a statement.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member is so much experienced in this House that he will know that that is not a point of order for me and, also, that the Minister is under no obligation to answer if he does not want to do so.

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