Emergency Powers (Defence) Act, 1939 (Continuance)

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 14 July 1944.

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Photo of Mr Herbert Morrison Mr Herbert Morrison , Hackney South 12:00, 14 July 1944

It is an unpopular word, I agree with my hon. Friend the Member for Ebbw Vale (Mr. Bevan) in the line he took. I think my hon. Friend is right to advise the Government to be selective as to what Regulations to retain at the proper time and what not to retain. Otherwise, we should be playing into the hands of extreme elements, one way or another. This is not a matter in which extreme elements ought to have the predominant voice; it is one in which the public interest ought to have the predominant voice, and all the argument, especially on economic control, should be entirely related to the public interest. The hon. Member for Penryn and Falmouth (Mr. Petherick) asked that the Government should indicate their general point of view, and that I will do. I find myself in general agreement with the hon. Member for North Cumberland (Mr. W. Roberts), who, I thought, took a discriminating and balanced view of the problem. The hon. Member for East Aberdeen (Mr. Boothby)—in the one speech he makes on these occasions—talked about Article 12 (5A) of the Defence Regulations and hung what he had to say upon this, which brought him in Order.