HC Deb 12 July 1966 vol 731 cc1212-4
Q2. Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Prime Minister if he will now consider the publication of a White Paper setting out in detail all the evidence in his possession of the use of intimidation and other methods by outside influences to prolong the seamen's strike.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Wilson)

I have nothing to add to the speeches I made in the House on 28th June.

Mr. Hamilton

May I infer from that Answer that the Prime Minister has nothing to add to what he said on that occasion? If so, the House and the country will be extremely disappointed, since what he said then was common knowledge to almost every member of the community who takes an interest in these matters.

The Prime Minister

No, Sir; it went considerably beyond what was common knowledge. I have nothing useful to add to the speeches which I made in the House then.

Mr. Hugh Fraser

Surely the right hon. Gentleman discussed this matter with my colleagues on the Opposition Front Bench. Surely it was agreed that there should be a further review and a further statement. Otherwise, the House will be permanently menaced by some of the so-called revelations of the right hon. Gentleman.

The Prime Minister

I had a discussion with the Leader of the Opposition some days before I made this statement, but it is the case that in winding up the debate in the evening I said that I would certain.y consider, when the strike was over, the suggestion made by the Leader of the. Opposition about a possible further inquiry. I have not yet had time to do that, but I might well suggest to the right hon. Gentleman that we meet to discuss it further.

Mr. Heath

I am willing to meet the Prime Minister to discuss the matter, but it is 2½ weeks since the strike came to an ends Is the right hon. Gentleman saying that, with all his abilities and speed of mind and the advice of his colleagues, he has not been able to reach a decision after 2½ weeks?

The Prime Minister

It is not actually 2½ weeks. The strike came to an end on 1st July. Therefore, it is 11 days. But I still agree that in normal circumstances one should have been able to have dealt with the matter more quickly. If the right hon. Gentleman is willing, as he says he is, it will be necessary to discuss this matter with him in all its aspects.

Mr. Heath

I assure the Prime Minister that I am willing to discuss it at any time. The quicker he reaches a decision, the better, because obviously with the passage of time the possibility of an inquiry getting the exact information from those concerned becomes weaker.

The Prime Minister

I will certainly bear that in mind.

Mr. Michael Foot

Will the Prime Minister also bear in mind that there are many of us in the House who, as we said at the time, are strongly opposed to any such inquiry as the Leader of the Opposition suggested? [HON. MEMBERS: "Why?"] Because we believe that innocent people would suffer, just as they always have suffered when such inquiries have been conducted. Many of us are absolutely opposed to any kind of McCarthy inquiry in this country.

The Prime Minister

If there is to be an inquiry, the form of it is very important. That is one of the things which I would want to discuss. When I made this speech there were those on both sides of the House, including the Leader of the Opposition, who expressed great doubt about whether this would prolong the strike. In fact, it did not.