– in the House of Commons at on 28 May 1941.
Mr Edgar Granville
, Eye
asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the recent in crease in the number of Ministers without Portfolio, he will now consider the setting up of a Supreme War Cabinet of states men without strict party ties, without individual departmental responsibility, and to include Dominion representation, for the purpose of day to day consultation on, and the direction of, war policy?
Mr Clement Attlee
, Stepney Limehouse
I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to him on 29th April last, to which there is nothing to add.
Mr Edgar Granville
, Eye
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that since that answer was given there is evidence of a growing opinion in this country and in the Dominions that we shall not achieve a maximum war effort unless it is directed by an Empire War Cabinet? Further, is he aware that there is no reflection upon the Prime Minister in this Question, and that the only desire is that he shall lead a supreme War Cabinet to final victory?
The cabinet is the group of twenty or so (and no more than 22) senior government ministers who are responsible for running the departments of state and deciding government policy.
It is chaired by the prime minister.
The cabinet is bound by collective responsibility, which means that all its members must abide by and defend the decisions it takes, despite any private doubts that they might have.
Cabinet ministers are appointed by the prime minister and chosen from MPs or peers of the governing party.
However, during periods of national emergency, or when no single party gains a large enough majority to govern alone, coalition governments have been formed with cabinets containing members from more than one political party.
War cabinets have sometimes been formed with a much smaller membership than the full cabinet.
From time to time the prime minister will reorganise the cabinet in order to bring in new members, or to move existing members around. This reorganisation is known as a cabinet re-shuffle.
The cabinet normally meets once a week in the cabinet room at Downing Street.
