§ Q6. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Prime Minister how many official historians are now employed writing histories of military operations.
§ The Prime MinisterThe number of historians now engaged in writing the military histories of the Second World War is 13.
§ Mr. HughesIs the Prime Minister aware that students of history at Eton and Oxford are greatly handicapped because no official historian has written the story of the war in Suez? Is he satisfied that this history should be written by a Chicago professor who, if his version is correct, has some very serious aspersions to cast upon the Lord Privy Seal? Are there not unemployed historians in this country who are perfectly capable of writing the history, including one eminent Oxford historian, Mr. A. J. P. Taylor?
§ The Prime MinisterI have no doubt that we could mobilise plenty of historians to do the job, but I do not think the Question on the Order Paper has anything to do with Suez. It asks how many official historians are employed writing the histories of military operations. I have already answered Questions about Suez. Official historians deal with military matters and I do not think that there is any case for an official history of the Suez operation.
§ Mr. HughesDoes the Prime Minister take the view that Suez was not a military operation but a fiasco?
§ The Prime MinisterThat may be the hon. Member's view of it, but I do not think that this matter would be carried any further by having an official historian confirm or deny it.