§ Q5. Mr. Shinwellasked the Prime Minister what decision has now been reached by Her Majesty's Government on the integration of the United Kingdom defence organisation; what Departments are to he included; and what will be the designation of the respective Ministers.
§ The Prime MinisterThe principles of the proposed defence reorganisation were outlined by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence during the Defence debate. Detailed plans will be published in the promised White Paper, I expect in the next month or so.
§ Mr. ShinwellCan the Prime Minister say whether it is intended that military research into weapons and the like will be concentrated in the new Ministry of Defence organisation, and will he also say whether it is true that it has been decided by the Government not to include in the Ministry of Defence new integrated organisation the Ministry of Civil Aviation in so far as it occupies itself with military aircraft?
§ The Prime MinisterI am sure the right hon. Gentleman will appreciate that we had a debate on these matters. We are working hard on the elaboration of our proposals. We hope shortly to publish a White Paper, and it would be a mistake for me to give premature answers to Questions on matters which are under consideration.
§ Mr. ShinwellDoes not the right hon Gentleman realise that this is a matter of prime importance and all that one is trying to do is to offer some guidance to the right hon. Gentleman before he finally makes up his mind? We want to avoid any further mistakes in the creation of a sound military defence organisation.
§ The Prime MinisterI quite under. stand the right hon. Gentleman's motives, for which I am grateful, but I still think he will agree that it would be a mistake to announce decisions which cannot be taken till the next stage when we have the White Paper ready.
Mr. H. WilsonI think I am right in saying that this reorganisation was first adumbrated by the Prime Minister himself when about eight years ago, as Minister of Defence, he announced that he was working on these lines then. Is the right hon. Gentleman in a position to answer one question which was regarded in the defence debate as fairly central to the reorganisation, namely. whether there will be one accounting officer in the new organisation or three, or four? Has a decision been taken on this yet?
§ The Prime MinisterThat is a fairly complicated point about which I hope to have a clear view by the time the White Paper comes; in fact, it is an essential part of the White Paper. But it is not quite as simple an issue as It may appear.