§ 2.36 p.m.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have come to any decision on the matters reported in the Press concerning the amendment of the structure of the Ministry of Defence organisation passed into law in 1947, and if so when it is proposed to lay a White Paper before Parliament and introduce the necessary amending legislation.]
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH RELATIONS (THE EARL OF HOME)My Lords, the noble Viscount will no doubt have seen that the Prime Minister said yesterday in another place that he hoped to make a statement or publish a White Paper very soon.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, I read carefully the Report of the Questions of yesterday and the day before, and perhaps I might ask the Leader of the House whether he is aware of the great and wide publicity interest which has arisen because, apparently, of widespread leakages of what the Government's policy may be. It is very undesirable, in a matter of this kind, that it should be communicated to Parliament in such a manner as that. May I therefore express the hope that the White Paper will be produced as early as possible? In spite of what the Prime Minister has said, I think it ought 770 to be a matter for Parliament to debate before any final decision becomes operative. May I ask the noble Earl also whether he is aware that, considering the terms of the White Paper of October. 1946, which I have in my hand, and the fact that that required legislation and debate, not only on the White Paper but upon legislation, we hope that Parliament will certainly be asked to pursue the same course in this matter?
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, may I deal with those points in order? I think what the noble Viscount has described as "leakages" have really been speculations in the Press; and speculations often, so far as one can see, very wide of the mark and not to be taken too seriously. So far as a debate is concerned, I think it is recognised on all sides that matters of Government machinery, where they fall short of legislation, are the responsibility of the Executive, and therefore it is the Prime Minister's responsibility to settle these matters. But, of course, once any decision is made public, it is always challengeable in Parliament. I would suggest that we wait for the statement or the White Paper, and then the noble Viscount can see what he thinks of it and, if necessary, challenge the decisions.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, I should be happy to await the arrival of a White Paper. But the peace-time experiment commenced by my noble friend Lord Attlee in 1946, which was put on the Statute Book, is of such importance that if there is to be any substantial change there should be a debate not only on the White Paper but also upon amending legislation. In view of the kind of suggestions which have been made—which still, of course, have to be proved—surely it would require legislation to carry them into being.
VISCOUNT ELIBANKMy Lords, can the noble Earl assure the House that they will be challengeable in Parliament before Parliament rises for the Recess?
THE EARL OF HOMEAnything is challengeable in Parliament. We shall have to wait and see when the Prime Minister can produce his statement or his White Paper. I cannot give any decision on timing.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, I really think we ought to ask for an assurance that there will be no fundamental change in the structure and administration of the Service Departments until there has been a debate. I hope, therefore, if no White Paper is published before the end of this month, that it will not be operative until after Parliament reassembles.
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, I will take note of what the noble Viscount has said. I should have thought it would be unlikely to involve legislation, but I will look at it in the light of what the noble Viscount has said.