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

I have been careful not to commit myself to the view that new legislation will be either necessary or desirable. I leave the Government absolutely free upon that point. On the other hand, hon. Members have urged that there should be new legislation, and they have every right so to urge. All that I have said is that the House at that time shall have a full opportunity of reviewing the whole situation on a statement which the Government will make. The question of new legislation is a matter for consideration at the time. Of course, at the end of the day the Government must meet the wishes of Parliament. The Government must either adapt themselves to the will of Parliament, or make way for a Government which will do so, but it will be for the Government to make up their mind and Parliament must decide. I do not propose to go now beyond a broad outline. For the reasons I have given, it would be wrong to contemplate that the whole system of emergency powers can be brought to an end at that date. Undoubtedly special powers will be needed, both for the purposes of the continuing conditions of war and for the purposes of the economic and social problems of the transitional period. It may be that some extension of the emergency powers may be needed in certain respect, just as it may be that they can be diminished in others. We must have fluid and open minds as to what is necessary in the public interest at the time. Nevertheless, the nature and extent of those emergency powers is a question which the House will be fully entitled to review in the light of the fresh considerations which will arise as the result of the cessation of the war in Europe.

If I may say so, I think that fairly meets the various points which have been raised in the House. Nobody can expect the House to be absolutely unanimous on these things. There are temperamental differences about them and I do not claim to be absolutely representative of every hon. Member in this respect. I try to serve the House as faithfully as I can, to reflect its will and to reconcile it with my duty as Secretary of State for the Home Department. But what the House was entitled to ask for, and the essence of what the House in all quarters did ask for, was that when a situation arises in which there is a prima facie case for reviewing this matter the Government will not evade the issue but will come to the House afresh and say, "Let us have a talk about it." That we will do, and we go further. We say that we are already examining this matter in detail, so that there will be no need—provided the House gives us reasonable latitude as regards time—for that Government to come along and say, "We are very sorry, we forgot to think about this question before, and now you must wait for an indefinite period until we have had time to think about it." That situation will not arise; we shall be ready quite frankly and fairly to confer with the House about the matter in the situation which will then exist. I hope that, with that assurance, the House will be good enough to give us the Motion moved by my right hon. Friend.