§ 2.53 p.m.
Baroness WARD of NORTH TYNE-SIDEMy Lords, I beg leave 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 the academic institution set up in the South of France after the last war to which members of the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom were sent to learn foreign languages still exists; or, if not, when it was disbanded.
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, I regret that I have not been able to identify the institution which the noble Baroness has in mind.
Baroness WARD of NORTH TYNE-SIDEMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that rather odd Answer, and I should like to ask what records have been examined. I have in mind, for instance, the general records which may be held by the Ministry of Defence; or perhaps Mr. Winston Churchill's records. There are a large number of records. I notice that in his Answer the noble Lord has not said whether he is certain that my information is incorrect. I can assure your Lordships that it is not incorrect.
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, the question refers to the South of France. In these circumstances, we have rechecked all likely sources, including the defence attaché's office in Paris. The Royal Army Education Corps, and its museum, the curator of the Intelligence Corps Museum, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office archivist, the Director of Education, RAF, and the MOD Library, are unable to throw any light on the subject.
Baroness WARD of NORTH TYNE-SIDEMy Lords, I find that most peculiar. Perhaps the noble Lord would be kind enough, when he has the opportunity, to consult one of my colleagues in this Chamber, the noble Viscount, Lord Maugham. He certainly had something to do with the institution to which I have referred; in fact I had much to do with it myself.
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, if the noble Baroness would be so kind as to meet me in some other place, we might discuss the matter.
Lord PAGET of NORTHAMPTONMy Lords, can my noble friend give us any estimate of the cost of pursuing this extensive, if somewhat fatuous, inquiry?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, without knowing the facts, I cannot say whether or not it is fatuous, but the expense is surely part of the general overheads of running the Ministry of Defence.
§ Lord LEATHERLANDMy Lords, in view of the fact that some mystery seems to surround this institution, will the noble Lord consider sending a delegation of Members from this House to the South of France during August to make investigations?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMCertainly, my Lords, if it was to be the House of Lords Defence Study Group.
§ Lord ANNANMy Lords, does the noble Lord know whether it was by any chance the institution which Sir Terence Rattigan once attended?