HC Deb 02 April 1957 vol 568 cc29-30W
68. Mr. Shinwell

asked the Prime Minister if the Government will arrange for meetings with the Opposition on the subject of defence similar to those held in 1949.

The Prime Minister

The right hon. Gentleman is no doubt referring to three meetings held in the summer and autumn of 1949 between my right hon. Friend the Member for Woodford (Sir W. Churchill) then Leader of the Opposition, and his colleagues and the Prime Minister and other Ministers of the day. These arose from a memorandum on defence sent to the Prime Minister by my right hon. Friend the Member for Woodford. If the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition cared to make a similar approach, I would of course give it careful and sympathetic consideration.