– in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 4 May 1955.
Mr Emanuel Shinwell
, Easington
12:00,
4 May 1955
May I now ask my Question, which is sightly related to the point raised by my hon. Friend the Member for Oldham West (Mr. Hale). May I ask the Leader of the House whether, before the House rises tomorrow, it is the intention of the Government to make any concessions on any particular subject, and if so, would the Government consider the matter of an inquiry into the National Service Acts with a view to a possible reduction?
Captain Harry Crookshank
, Gainsborough
I do not quite understand what the right hon. Gentleman is referring to. Perhaps he will elucidate.
Mr Emanuel Shinwell
, Easington
Certainly. I shall be delighted, so long as Mr. Speaker will permit me, as I do not want to take up the time of the House. Yesterday and the day before, the Government, under pressure, granted certain concessions, one in the matter of pensions and the other in the matter of the textile industry. I cannot see why everybody else should have a concession and I should not.
As this matter of the National Service Acts and an inquiry with a possible view to a reduction in the period of service is of the utmost importance, and is referred to in both the Conservative and Labour manifestos, and will be a subject of considerable importance to the electors during the Election, will the right hon. Gentleman say whether, even at the eleventh hour, the Government will make a concession?
Captain Harry Crookshank
, Gainsborough
The view of the Government was expressed in the recent debate upon that subject and I do not anticipate that any more statements will be made on that matter. But I do note, and I am sure everybody else notes, the amazing disappointment which the party opposite has when any improvement is announced by this Government.
Mr Clement Attlee
, Walthamstow West
Surely if the Chancellor of the exchequer can be thrown over on one day, there is no reason why the Minister of Defence should not be thrown over on the next?
Captain Harry Crookshank
, Gainsborough
The right hon. Gentleman must be very careful that he is not thrown over.
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