§ [The question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government, whether they have any statement to make in addition to that made by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport, on the findings arising from the inquiry before Mr. Justice Tucker on the marking of destination on overseas goods.]
§ THE MINISTER OF WAR TRANSPORT (LORD LEATHERS)My Lords, on the last occasion when the noble Earl raised this question, it was plain to me that many of your Lordships were disquieted by what had been said during the course of that debate. I myself felt confident that the system that we had adopted was proving highly satisfactory and was on the right lines, but in view 604 of the apparent uneasiness expressed in the House, I promised to have a special investigation made into the whole problem. With the consent of my noble and learned friend the Lord Chancellor, I was fortunate enough to obtain the assistance of Mr. Justice Tucker, who conducted a full inquiry, taking a great deal of evidence and having available to him for study all the Departmental papers which he wished to see. I regret that in view of the subject-matter it would not be appropriate to publish in full his clear and able Report. I can, however, indicate an outline of the conclusions reached, though I fear that there is little I can add to what was said in another place by the Parliamentary Secretary to my Department.
The Report finds that in general the existing system and the instructions given to shippers, railways and others concerned are not open to objection on security grounds. Mr. Justice Tucker considered it neither desirable nor practicable to alter the practice of marking cargo with the name of the port of destination. This, of course, applies to ordinary convoys; operational convoys such as those to Madagascar or North Africa are dealt with specially, and the names of ports in those cases are naturally not used. Mr. Justice Tucker pointed out that the instructions had not been completely carried out in relation to one operational convoy. He took the view that this had not brought about danger to the convoy, but recommended further measures to ensure that instructions should, in future, be carried out to the full. He also recommended a change which, though not essential for purposes of security, would nevertheless be useful. I have already taken action to put these recommendations into effect, and to tighten up the carrying out of instructions. I very much hope that any anxiety on the ground of security measures which may have been aroused in the minds of relatives and friends of our seafarers will have been allayed by Mr. Justice Tucker's findings.
THE EARL OF CORK AND ORRERYMy Lords, arising out of that answer to my question, may I ask the noble Lord whether he would dissociate himself from the remarks with which his Parliamentary Under-Secretary saw fit to embellish his statement?
§ LORD ADDISONMy Lords, may I reinforce the appeal of the noble and gallant Earl? I think the Minister might give some attention to the statement which was made and which shocked some of us.
§ LORD LEATHERSPerhaps the noble Earl would tell me to what statement he refers.
THE EARL OF CORK AND ORRERYIf I am in order in reading from the Official Report, I will do so. Mr. Noel Baker made these remarks:
…it was most regrettable that speeches should have been made which spread unjustifiable alarm among the public and caused needless distress and anxiety to relatives and friends of merchant seamen, and I think it would have been much better if the critics would have consulted my noble friend in private before they made accusations in an indiscriminate manner for which there was no foundation whatever.To those remarks I take great exception.
§ LORD LEATHERSMy Lords, I would not complain at all of any justifiable criticism, but it did seem to me that much was said on the last occasion that was likely to give rise to this unfounded anxiety, and I think the words of the Parliamentary Secretary had reference to them, and I think probably were justified.
THE EARL OF CORK AND ORRERYMy Lords, I shall ask your leave to introduce a Motion on this subject in this House as soon as possible after the Recess.