HC Deb 07 April 1965 vol 710 cc455-6
1. Mr. Kershaw

asked the Paymaster-General whether he is satisfied with the co-ordination of home information services in giving publicity to Government statements about the British Army of the Rhine; and whether he will make a statement.

8. Mr. Dance

asked the Paymaster-General whether he is satisfied with the co-ordination of home information services in giving publicity to statements about the British Army of the Rhine; and whether he will make a statement.

The Paymaster-General (Mr. George Wigg)

Yes, Sir.

Mr. Kershaw

While recognising that the Paymaster-General must have little time to spare for the problems of serious Government because of his own preferred activity of shady political tricky manoeuvres—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Member should not make use of the privilege of being allowed to ask a supplementary question to make abusive remarks.

Mr. Dance

Surely this matter wants clarifying? At one moment we get the Minister in charge of Army affairs saying that the figure should be 55,000 men. We are then told by the Prime Minister that he is going to look into the question. Yesterday we had serious hints from the Chancellor that the figure is going to be reduced. What is the real fact?

Mr. Wigg

If the hon. Gentleman is in any doubt, I suggest that he puts this question to either the Minister of Defence or my right hon. Friend the Deputy Secretary of State and Minister of Defence for the Army. If the hon. Gentleman is in any doubt, and something needs to be clarified, it might help him if he started an exercise on what was done and said during the last 13 years.

Mr. Robert Cooke

Would the right hon. Gentleman be a little more helpful here? It is his responsibility to coordinate home information services. It is a little confusing to the House to have these different statements from different Ministers. What is the right hon. Gentleman's rôle in this matter?

Mr. Wigg

I suggest that the hon. Gentleman should look at the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 12th November, 1964, at column 1186 of HANSARD.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

Does not my right hon. Friend realise that he would have a lot less left to do if he inspected the Army of the Rhine and brought it home with him?

Mr. Speaker

That does not correspond with co-ordinating information services.