Mr Tom Driberg: asked the Prime Minister whether he can now make any statement concerning church bells and, in particular, whatever may be decided as a general policy whether he will allow the ringing of them on Christmas morning?
Mr Tom Driberg: If the whole matter is under consideration, can the right hon. Gentleman answer the latter part of my Question?
Mr Tom Driberg: asked the Secretary of State for War whether priority can be given, when military personnel are brought home from overseas on compassionate grounds, other than medical, to men over 40 years of age with family obligations and to those who were already serving overseas before this war began?
Mr Tom Driberg: This is a Debate on a medical subject in which I think it has been quite right that a number of laymen should take part, because except perhaps for tuberculosis there is probably no disease which can less properly be considered in isolation from its social context than venereal disease. It is now about six weeks, I think, since I asked the Minister of Health a question with regard to a...
Mr Tom Driberg: I am very glad if the hon. Member meant to pay a compliment, but I think he phrased the compliment equivocally. I quite agree with him that some other countries have undoubtedly tackled the subject of venereal disease more effectively than we have done so far. Reference has been made to Sweden. Some figures from Sweden were quoted, and some hon. Members showed a disposition to cast doubt upon...
Mr Tom Driberg: rose—
Mr Tom Driberg: The right hon. Gentleman spoke of "deliberately false statements." There is a great possibility of error, surely, of unintentionally false statements when there is promiscuity.
Mr Tom Driberg: asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British Ambassador to Spain was present on the occasion of General Franco's recent speech extolling the genius of Mussolini and the Nazi ideology; and whether any contrary representations were subsequently addressed to General Franco by the Ambassador?
Mr Tom Driberg: Does the right hon. Gentlemen consider that our tenderness to General Franco has been justified by his neutrality, which has probably been more helpful to the Axis than to ourselves?
Mr Tom Driberg: Yes, I am asking for your opinion.
Mr Tom Driberg: asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that 270 men were employed for three weeks, at a place of which he has been informed, in laying a pipe-line which was then found to be of inadequate diameter so that the entire job had to be done again; who was responsible for this waste of time, labour and public money; and what action he proposes to take?
Mr Tom Driberg: Is the Minister aware that that error was pointed out in advance by the workmen and the foreman engaged on the job, and they protested but were told to go ahead with it just the same?
Mr Tom Driberg: asked the Prime Minister whether he can now make any statement concerning church bells, having in mind both the general demand for a more effective form of invasion warning and the immediate desire of many of the public that the bells shall be rung on Christmas morning?
Mr Tom Driberg: Does the right hon. Gentleman recall that a week ago he said that there was no danger of the question not being settled before Christmas, and is he aware that Christmas is coming?
Mr Tom Driberg: asked the Secretary of State for War how many copies of the bulletin concerning the Beveridge Report, issued by the Army Bureau of Current Affairs, were not returned after its withdrawal?
Mr Tom Driberg: Will the right hon. Gentleman consider making this bulletin available to Members of the House, out of the ample stocks now presumably in hand, so that they can judge for themselves how completely objective and harmless it is?
Mr Tom Driberg: It is not laudatory; it is impartial.
Mr Tom Driberg: The right hon. Gentleman referred to the thrill of horror caused by Nazi atrocities, but is it not a fact that these atrocities have been going on since 1933, and is it not rather unfortunate the British Government concealed so effectively until 1939 the thrill of horror which it no doubt felt?
Mr Tom Driberg: asked the Secretary of State for War how many copies of the bulletin concerning the Beveridge Report, issued by the "Army Bureau of Current Affairs," were not returned after its withdrawal; and whether copies of it are to be made available for inspection by Members of this House?
Mr Tom Driberg: asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will examine, with the Secretary of State for Air, the possibility of bringing home prisoners of war, on the cessation of hostilities, by transport aircraft rather than by less expeditious means?