Oral Answers to Questions — Royal Navy – in the House of Commons at on 14 October 1942.
Mr George Hall
, Merthyr Tydfil Aberdare
Mr. Constantinesco has given the Admiralty no technical information about the watercraft referred to. In the absence of such information the Armiralty have been unable to support his request for priorities for the supply of building and other materials, which he states he requires in order to develop his invention. The Admiralty have, however, helped Mr. Constantinesco by arranging for an aircraft engine to be supplied for use in his experiments.
Commander Bower:
In view of the fact that three years and more have elapsed since Mr. Constantinesco offered to place the secrets of his invention at the disposal of the Director of Naval Construction, is it not time that something more was done? Could not the First Lord of the Admiralty consult with the Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Cabinet in order to find some way of using the services of inventors?
Mr George Hall
, Merthyr Tydfil Aberdare
It is true that this matter has been under consideration for three years, but not by the Admiralty. The Admiralty have during the whole of this period asked this gentleman to furnish information to them, and he has refused to do so, notwithstanding explicit assurances by the First Lord with regard to secrecy. As a matter of fact, twice during the course of this year my right hon. Friend has assured this gentleman in personal letters that if this gentleman will trust the First Lord he will see that Mr. Constantinesco gets a square deal.
Mr Austin Hopkinson
, Mossley
In view of the unfortunate history of some of the inventions of this gentleman, will the Admiralty keep a very close eye on the public purse in this matter?
Mr Alfred Edwards
, Middlesbrough East
Is it not a fact that this gentleman was responsible for one of the most important inventions during the last war, and if he has similar contributions to make how, is it not very serious that all this time should have elapsed?
Mr George Hall
, Merthyr Tydfil Aberdare
What is expected of this gentleman is that he shall do what everybody else has been asked to do in this matter.
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.
