HL Deb 09 February 1943 vol 125 cc979-80
THE EARL OF LUCAN

My Lords, on behalf of my noble friend Lord Rushcliffe, I beg to ask the question standing in his name.

[The question was as follows:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether attention has been called to statements with reference to the Under-Secretary of State for War in certain newspapers in connexion with the subject of the Beveridge Report and A.B.C.A., namely:—"On this occasion after reading the Beveridge summary, he took the step of telephoning to Mr. Williams, Current Affairs Director, and, we understand, informed him that he would have to go to the Conservative Central Office about it'…" and the further statement: "And in fact a deputation headed by Lord Croft had gone to the Prime Minister to protest against this dispensation of strong Beveridges to the innocent troops;" and whether these statements are correct.]

THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (LORD CROFT)

My Lords, I have read the statements referred to and am glad to have the opportunity of informing the noble Lord that it is incorrect that I telephoned Mr. Williams on reading the summary and that I held any conversation by telephone or otherwise; neither did I make any communication in writing to the Director of Current Affairs with reference to the Beveridge summary; nor have I discussed the Beveridge Report or the article in A.B.C.A. with the Director either before or since the Beveridge Report was first published. I was further unaware that the suggested matter was to be issued until I saw a copy in print prior to its dispatch. The statement is therefore untrue.

It follows that since I had no conversation I could not have threatened to "go to the Conservative Central Office about it," which is therefore equally untrue. With regard to the alleged deputation to the Prime Minister, such a proposal was never made and no such deputation took place. It is a deliberate falsehood. I take this opportunity of expressing my personal resentment at the imputation of disloyalty on my part towards my Chief, an imputation which, happily, I know he equally resents.