§ 48. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Prime Minister how many meetings he has now had with the Leaders of the Opposition on the question of defence.
§ The Prime MinisterI presume that my hon. Friend is referring to the series of meetings which certain of my right hon. Friends and I had with the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition and other Privy Councillors in 1949, the holding of which was announced publicly at the time.
As I told my hon. Friend on 28th November, 1949, three such meetings were held. This series of meetings has not been renewed, but various aspects of defence have been the subject of correspondence and informal conversation with the Leader of the Opposition since then, and there was a general debate on defence earlier this year.