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m
T H I S D O C U M E N T IS T H E P R O P E R T Y O F H E R B R I T A N N I C M A J E S T Y ' S G O V E R N M E N T
Printed
for
the Cabinet.
February
1956
Copy N o . 3 g
SECRET
CM.
(56)
16th Conclusions
CABINET
CONCLUSIONS
of a Meeting of the Cabinet
House of Commons,
S.W. 1, on Wednesday,
held in the Prime Ministers
22nd February,
1956, at 4
Room,
p.m.
Present:
T h e R i g h t H o n . Sir A N T H O N Y E D E N , M . P . , P r i m e M i n i s t e r .
T h e M o s t H o n . t h e M A R Q U E S S OF
SALISBURY, L o r d P r e s i d e n t of t h e
Council.
T h e R i g h t H o n . HAROLD MACMILLAN,
M . P . , C h a n c e l l o r of t h e E x c h e q u e r .
T h e R i g h t H o n . S E L W Y N L L O Y D , Q.C.,
M . P . , S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for F o r e i g n
Affairs.
T h e R i g h t H o n . JAMES STUART, M.P.,
S e c r e t a r y of State for S c o t l a n d .
T h e Right H o n . A. T . LENNOX-BOYD,
M . P . , S e c r e t a r y of State for t h e
Colonies.
T h e Right Hon. DUNCAN SANDYS, M.P.,
Minister
of H o u s i n g
and
Local
Government.
T h e R i g h t H o n . D . HEATHCOAT A M O R Y ,
M.P.,
Minister
of
Agriculture,
Fisheries and Food.
The
Right Hon.
Minister
Service.
of
IAIN M A C L E O D ,
Labour
and
M.P.,
National
The
Right Hon.
R. A . B U T L E R ,
M.P.,
L o r d P r i v y Seal.
T h e Right H o n . the VISCOUNT KILMUIR,
Lord Chancellor.
The Right Hon.
GWILYM
LLOYDG E O R G E , M . P . , S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for
the H o m e D e p a r t m e n t and Minister
for W e l s h Affairs.
T h e R i g h t H o n . t h e E A R L OF H O M E ,
Secretary of S t a t e for C o m m o n w e a l t h
Relations.
T h e R i g h t H o n . Sir W A L T E R M O N C K T O N ,
Q.C., M . P . , M i n i s t e r of D e f e n c e .
T h e R i g h t H o n . PETER THORNEYCROFT,
M . P . , P r e s i d e n t of t h e B o a r d of T r a d e .
T h e R i g h t H o n . Sir D A V I D E C C L E S ,
M . P . , M i n i s t e r of E d u c a t i o n .
T h e R i g h t H o n . the E A R L OF SELKIRK,
C h a n c e l l o r of t h e D u c h y of L a n c a s t e r .
T h e R i g h t H o n . PATRICK B U C H A N H E P B U R N , M . P . , M i n i s t e r of W o r k s .
T h e following w e r e also p r e s e n t :
T h e R i g h t H o n . JOHN BOYD-CARPENTER, T h e R i g h t H o n . H A R O L D W A T K I N S O N ,
M . P . , M i n i s t e r of
Pensions and
M . P . , M i n i s t e r of T r a n s p o r t a n d Civil
N a t i o n a l I n s u r a n c e (Items
8-9).
A v i a t i o n (Item 10).
T h e Right H o n . EDWARD HEATH, M.P.,
Parliamentary
Secretary,
Treasury
(Items
1-9).
Secretariat:
T h e R i g h t H o n . Sir N O R M A N B R O O K .
50023-2
Mr.
H.
O.
HOOPER.
Mr.
J. M .
WILSON.
B
CONTENTS
Minute No. 1
2
Subject
Parliament
N o r t h e r n I r e l a n d P a r l i a m e n t ..
Disqualification.
3
Economic Situation
4
Technological Education
Imperial C o l l e g e of Science.
5
6
7
8
9
Egypt
Capital Punishment
Technical Education
Legislative P r o g r a m m e 1955-56 Session
National Insurance Scheme
W i d o w s ' Benefits.
10
R o a d and Rail Transport
British Transport C o m m i s s i o n ^ F i n a n c e s .
11
Malaya
12
Cyprus
13
Nuclear Weapons
...
T e s t s in 1957.
Parliament.
1. T h e C a b i n e t w e r e i n f o r m e d of t h e business t o b e t a k e n i n
t h e H o u s e of C o m m o n s in t h e t w o n e x t following w e e k s .
O n 2 7 t h F e b r u a r y t h e r e w o u l d b e a d e b a t e o n F o r e i g n Affairs.
This would be opened by the Foreign Secretary, and the P r i m e
M i n i s t e r w o u l d r e p l y to t h e d e b a t e .
T h e Statement on Defence would be debated on 28th and 29th
F e b r u a r y . T h i s d e b a t e w o u l d b e o p e n e d b y t h e M i n i s t e r of D e f e n c e :
if it b e c a m e n e c e s s a r y for a G o v e r n m e n t s p o k e s m a n to d e a l w i t h
Civil D e f e n c e q u e s t i o n s , t h e H o m e Secretary w o u l d i n t e r v e n e d u r i n g
t h e c o u r s e of t h e first d a y : t h e M i n i s t e r of S u p p l y a n d t h e S e c r e t a r y
of S t a t e for A i r w o u l d s p e a k for t h e G o v e r n m e n t o n t h e s e c o n d d a y .
T h e A r m y E s t i m a t e s w o u l d b e d e b a t e d o n 1st M a r c h . T h e N a v y a n d
A i r E s t i m a t e s w o u l d b e d e b a t e d d u r i n g the w e e k b e g i n n i n g
5th M a r c h .
T h e S e c o n d R e a d i n g of t h e R e s t r i c t i v e T r a d e P r a c t i c e s Bill
w o u l d b e t a k e n o n 5th o r 6 t h M a r c h .
2. The Home Secretary said that, since t h e C a b i n e f s d i s c u s s i o n
o n 16th F e b r u a r y , it h a d b e e n f o u n d t h a t t w o f u r t h e r m e m b e r s of
t h e N o r t h e r n I r e l a n d P a r l i a m e n t h a d b e c o m e disqualified t h r o u g h
I n these c i r c u m ­
Disqualification a c c e p t a n c e of offices of profit u n d e r t h e C r o w n .
stances
h
e
h
a
d
d
e
l
a
y
e
d
t
h
e
p
r
e
s
e
n
t
a
t
i
o
n
of
t
h
e
W
h
i
t
e Paper and the
(Previous
R
e
p
o
r
t
s
of
t
h
e
Select
C
o
m
m
i
t
t
e
e
s
on
t
h
e
earlier
cases,
so t h a t all t h e
Reference :
k
n
o
w
n
cases
c
o
u
l
d
b
e
d
e
a
l
t
w
i
t
h
together.
C M . (56) 15th
Northern
Ireland
Parliament.
Conclusions,
M i n u t e 1.)
The
Cabinet—
T o o k n o t e of t h e H o m e S e c r e t a r y ' s s t a t e m e n t a n d a g r e e d
t h a t t h e a c t i o n w h i c h they h a d a u t h o r i s e d o n 16th F e b r u a r y
s h o u l d b e d e f e r r e d until it b e c a m e p o s s i b l e t o d e a l
c o m p r e h e n s i v e l y w i t h all the cases of disqualification w h i c h
h a d so far b e e n identified in t h e N o r t h e r n I r e l a n d
Parliament.
Economic
Situation.
(Previous
Reference:
C M . (56) 15th
Conclusions,
M i n u t e 3.)
3. T h e C a b i n e t w e r e i n f o r m e d t h a t , following t h e d e b a t e in t h e
H o u s e of C o m m o n s o n his p r o p o s a l s for r e d u c i n g t h e i n f l a t i o n a r y
p r e s s u r e in t h e n a t i o n a l e c o n o m y , the C h a n c e l l o r of t h e E x c h e q u e r
w o u l d give a b r o a d c a s t t a l k o n this subject o n 2 5 t h F e b r u a r y .
It
w a s also p r o p o s e d t h a t t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r , in c o m p a n y w i t h t h e
C h a n c e l l o r of the E x c h e q u e r a n d the M i n i s t e r of L a b o u r , s h o u l d
discuss w i t h r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of t h e T r a d e s U n i o n C o n g r e s s (T.U.C.)
t h e m e a s u r e s w h i c h t h e G o v e r n m e n t h a d f o u n d it n e c e s s a r y t o t a k e
t o r e m e d y t h e e c o n o m i c s i t u a t i o n . T h e G e n e r a l S e c r e t a r y of t h e
T . U . C . h a d a l r e a d y b e e n a p p r o a c h e d w i t h a view to a r r a n g i n g a n
early d a t e for this m e e t i n g .
I n discussion it w a s s u g g e s t e d that, in view of t h e s e f o r t h c o m i n g
discussions w i t h r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of the T . U . C . , it m i g h t n o w b e timely
t o p u b l i s h t h e p r o j e c t e d W h i t e P a p e r o n t h e I m p l i c a t i o n s of F u l l
E m p l o y m e n t . T h e C a b i n e t h a d decided o n 1st D e c e m b e r , 1955, t h a t
p u b l i c a t i o n of this W h i t e P a p e r should be p o s t p o n e d for t h e t i m e
being. T h e C a b i n e t w e r e i n f o r m e d t h a t t h e E c o n o m i c Policy
C o m m i t t e e h a d d e c i d e d , at a m e e t i n g earlier in t h e d a y , t h a t t h e
draft of this W h i t e P a p e r s h o u l d be b r o u g h t u p t o d a t e a n d t h a t a
r e v i s e d v e r s i o n s h o u l d b e s u b m i t t e d t o t h e C a b i n e t w i t h a view to its
early p u b l i c a t i o n .
The
Cabinet—
T o o k n o t e of t h e s e s t a t e m e n t s .
50023-2
B
2
Technological
Education.
Imperial
College
of Science.
(Previous
Reference :
C.M.-(56) 3rd
Conclusions,
M i n u t e 10.)
4. The Prime Minister
r e c a l l e d t h a t o n 11th J a n u a r y the
Cabinet had agreed that, despite the objections which the R o y a l Fine
A r t C o m m i s s i o n h a d r a i s e d t o t h e d e m o l i t i o n of t h e C o l l c u t t b u i l d i n g ,
t h e G o v e r n m e n t s h o u l d p r o c e e d w i t h their p l a n for c o n s t r u c t i n g o n
this site n e w a n d e n l a r g e d p r e m i s e s for t h e I m p e r i a l C o l l e g e of
Science. I t h a d n o w b e e n s u g g e s t e d to h i m t h a t the F i n a n c i a l
S e c r e t a r y , T r e a s u r y , s h o u l d h o l d a m e e t i n g w i t h r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of
t h e C o m m i s s i o n a n d of t h e U n i v e r s i t y a u t h o r i t i e s c o n c e r n e d w i t h a
v i e w t o e x p l a i n i n g t h e g r o u n d s for t h e G o v e r n m e n t s decision a n d
p e r s u a d i n g t h e C o m m i s s i o n t o w i t h d r a w t h e i r o b j e c t i o n s t o it. H e
d o u b t e d w h e t h e r it w o u l d b e e x p e d i e n t to t a k e this c o u r s e .
The
G o v e r n m e n t w e r e a l r e a d y b e i n g criticised for failing to t a k e earlier
s t e p s t o e x p a n d t h e facilities for t e c h n o l o g i c a l e d u c a t i o n .
They
s h o u l d n o t risk t h e c h a r g e of f u r t h e r d e l a y i n t h e e x e c u t i o n of their
p l a n for e n l a r g i n g t h e I m p e r i a l College.
I n discussion s o m e M i n i s t e r s e x p r e s s e d r e g r e t at t h e decision
t o d e m o l i s h t h e C o l l c u t t b u i l d i n g . I t w a s a b u i l d i n g of s o m e
a r c h i t e c t u r a l interest, a n d w a s a f e a t u r e of t h e L o n d o n skyline.
O t h e r M i n i s t e r s e x p r e s s e d d i s q u i e t a b o u t t h e d e s i g n of t h e n e w
b u i l d i n g w h i c h w a s t o t a k e its p l a c e . T h e y s u g g e s t e d t h a t this h a d
little m e r i t in itself a n d w o u l d n o t b e c o n g r u o u s w i t h t h e s u r r o u n d i n g
b u i l d i n g s . T h e y t h o u g h t it w o u l d b e wise t o c o n s i d e r a n y s u g g e s t i o n s
w h i c h t h e F i n e A r t C o m m i s s i o n m i g h t h a v e t o m a k e for i m p r o v e m e n t
of t h e design of t h e n e w b u i l d i n g .
I n further discussion it w a s a g r e e d t h a t t h e r e m i g h t be a d v a n t a g e
i n h o l d i n g a m e e t i n g w i t h r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of the F i n e A r t
C o m m i s s i o n , p r o v i d e d t h a t it w a s m a d e clear f r o m t h e o u t s e t t h a t
t h e G o v e r n m e n t w e r e n o t p r e p a r e d t o m o d i f y t h e i r d e c i s i o n to
d e m o l i s h t h e C o l l c u t t b u i l d i n g a n d t o build n e w p r e m i s e s for t h e
I m p e r i a l College o n this site, a n d t h a t t h e d i s c u s s i o n s c o u l d n o t be
a l l o w e d to d e l a y p r o g r e s s in t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of t h e n e w b u i l d i n g .
O n this u n d e r s t a n d i n g , h o w e v e r , t h e G o v e r n m e n t c o u l d offer to
c o n s i d e r a n y c o m m e n t s w h i c h t h e F i n e A r t C o m m i s s i o n m i g h t wish
t o m a k e o n t h e d e s i g n of t h e n e w b u i l d i n g .
The Cabinet—
Agreed that the Financial Secretary, Treasury, should be
a u t h o r i s e d t o invite t h e c o m m e n t s of t h e R o y a l F i n e A r t
C o m m i s s i o n o n t h e design of t h e n e w b u i l d i n g for t h e
I m p e r i a l College of Science, o n t h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h a t t h e
G o v e r n m e n t w e r e finally c o m m i t t e d t o p r o c e e d w i t h this
p r o j e c t a n d t h a t this c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h t h e C o m m i s s i o n
w o u l d n o t b e a l l o w e d t o d e l a y its e x e c u t i o n .
Egypt?
5 . The Foreign Secretary said t h a t h e w o u l d s h o r t l y b e m e e t i n g
t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r of E g y p t in C a i r o . S u b j e c t t o t h e C a b i n e f s views,
R e f e r e n c e :
h e p r o p o s e d , in his discussions w i t h C o l o n e l N a s s e r , to t a k e a firm
C M . (55) 4 2 n d
line a b o u t t h e t o n e of E g y p t i a n p r o p a g a n d a o n B r i t i s h policy in t h e
C o n c l u s i o n s ,
M i d d l e E a s t a n d to m a k e p l a i n t h e a d v a n t a g e s t o E g y p t of a
M i n u t e 9.)
friendlier r e l a t i o n w i t h t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m .
It was not to be
e x p e c t e d t h a t , if E g y p t s h o w e d s u c h hostility t o w a r d s us, w e s h o u l d
c o n t i n u e to t r e a t h e r as a friendly S t a t e a n d , for e x a m p l e , t o give h e r
financial assistance t o w a r d s t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of t h e A s w a n H i g h D a m .
H i s object w o u l d b e t o m a k e it clear t h a t E g y p t c o u l d n o t e x p e c t
f u r t h e r h e l p f r o m us unless she c h a n g e d h e r p o l i c y t o w a r d s u s .
(Previous
I n discussion it w a s p o i n t e d o u t t h a t o u r decision t o m a k e a
financial
c o n t r i b u t i o n t o w a r d s t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of t h e A s w a n D a m
h a d b e e n t a k e n , after full c o n s i d e r a t i o n , b e c a u s e it w a s t h o u g h t to
b e in o u r interests t o p r e v e n t t h e Soviet G o v e r n m e n t f r o m o b t a i n i n g
c o n t r a c t s w h i c h w o u l d give t h e m a f o o t h o l d in E g y p t . W e c o u l d
n o t lightly w i t h d r a w f r o m this u n d e r t a k i n g a n d c e r t a i n l y c o u l d n o t
d o so w i t h o u t p r i o r c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s G o v e r n m e n t .
The Foreign Secretary
said t h a t h e w a s n o t a s k i n g t h e C a b i n e t
t o reverse t h e i r decision a b o u t t h e A s w a n D a m a n d w o u l d n o t
p r o p o s e , in his f o r t h c o m i n g discussions, to t h r e a t e n t o w i t h d r a w t h e
offer of British assistance in this p r o j e c t . H e n e e d n o t at this stage
b e specific a b o u t t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s w h i c h w o u l d follow if the
E g y p t i a n s failed t o m o d i f y their p o l i c y t o w a r d s u s . H e n e e d g o n o
further at p r e s e n t t h a n t o e m p h a s i s e the c o m m o n a d v a n t a g e s t o
b o t h c o u n t r i e s of a b e t t e r u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d friendlier r e l a t i o n s
b e t w e e n the U n i t e d K i n g d o m a n d E g y p t .
The
Capital
Punishment.
(Previous
Reference :
C M . (56) 10th
Conclusions,
M i n u t e 3.)
CabinetT o o k n o t e w i t h a p p r o v a l of t h e line w h i c h t h e F o r e i g n
S e c r e t a r y p r o p o s e d to t a k e in his f o r t h c o m i n g discussions
w i t h the P r i m e M i n i s t e r of E g y p t .
6. I n t h e d e b a t e in t h e H o u s e of C o m m o n s o n 16th F e b r u a r y ,
t h e G o v e r n m e n t m o t i o n c o m m e n d i n g t h e r e t e n t i o n of c a p i t a l
p u n i s h m e n t as the p e n a l t y for m u r d e r h a d b e e n d e f e a t e d , o n a free
vote, b y 293 votes to 262. T h e C a b i n e t c o n s i d e r e d w h a t c o u r s e t h e
G o v e r n m e n t s h o u l d n o w t a k e in t h e light of this e x p r e s s i o n of t h e
view of t h e H o u s e of C o m m o n s . T h e y h a d b e f o r e t h e m a
m e m o r a n d u m o n this q u e s t i o n b y t h e H o m e S e c r e t a r y ( C P . (56) 43).
I n discussion of t h e H o m e
following p o i n t s w e r e m a d e : —
Secretary's
memorandum
the
(a) T h e r e w a s g e n e r a l a g r e e m e n t that, as t h e G o v e r n m e n t h a d
invited t h e H o u s e t o s u p p o r t a m o t i o n for t h e r e t e n t i o n of c a p i t a l
p u n i s h m e n t , t h e y c o u l d n o t n o w i n t r o d u c e a G o v e r n m e n t Bill to
abolish it. G o v e r n m e n t s u p p o r t e r s w h o h a d v o t e d in f a v o u r of the
m o t i o n w o u l d b e u n w i l l i n g to s u p p o r t G o v e r n m e n t legislation t o t h e
c o n t r a r y effect.
(b) D o u b t s w e r e e x p r e s s e d a b o u t t h e e x p e d i e n c y of the
a l t e r n a t i v e c o u r s e , suggested b y t h e H o m e S e c r e t a r y , of p r o v i d i n g
G o v e r n m e n t t i m e for t h e p a s s a g e of t h e D e a t h P e n a l t y (Abolition)
Bill w h i c h h a d been i n t r o d u c e d b y M r . S. S i l v e r m a n , M . P . T h i s
Bill p r o v i d e d t h a t t h e d e a t h p e n a l t y for m u r d e r s h o u l d b e s u s p e n d e d
for five y e a r s a n d t h a t after a further five y e a r s it s h o u l d b e a b o l i s h e d
a l t o g e t h e r unless, in t h e i n t e r v e n i n g p e r i o d , p r a y e r s for its
c o n t i n u a n c e h a d b e e n p a s s e d b y b o t h H o u s e s of P a r l i a m e n t . T h e
H o u s e of C o m m o n s h a d n o w d e c l a r e d for t h e a b o l i t i o n of the
p e n a l t y , a n d it w a s u n d e s i r a b l e t h a t legislation s h o u l d b e p a s s e d
w h i c h w o u l d h a v e the effect of r e o p e n i n g t h e issue after a p e r i o d of
five y e a r s . M i g h t it n o t b e p r e f e r a b l e t h a t t h e l e a d e r s of t h e L a b o u r
O p p o s i t i o n s h o u l d t h e m s e l v e s p r o m o t e a Bill p r o v i d i n g for t h e
a b o l i t i o n of t h e d e a t h p e n a l t y ?
A s a g a i n s t this it w a s a r g u e d t h a t , if t h e p r i n c i p l e of
M r . S i l v e r m a n ' s Bill w a s c o n f i r m e d o n S e c o n d R e a d i n g , it w o u l d be
o p e n t o t h e G o v e r n m e n t t o m o v e in t h e C o m m i t t e e S t a g e a m e n d ­
m e n t s w h i c h w o u l d t r a n s f o r m t h e m e a s u r e i n t o o n e for t h e c o m p l e t e
a b o l i t i o n of t h e d e a t h p e n a l t y . T h e r e w a s m u c h t o b e said for
allowing t h e H o u s e of C o m m o n s to p r o c e e d w i t h this q u e s t i o n o n
t h e basis of t h e Bill a l r e a d y b e f o r e t h e m . T h e G o v e r n m e n t w o u l d
seem t o b e a s s u m i n g a g r e a t e r r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t h a n t h e y n e e d if they
t o o k t h e initiative in inviting t h e l e a d e r s of t h e L a b o u r O p p o s i t i o n
t o s p o n s o r a different f o r m of Bill.
(c) T h i s s h o u l d b e t r e a t e d as a P r i v a t e M e m b e r ' s Bill. T h e
G o v e r n m e n t s h o u l d p r o v i d e n o facilities for it, a p a r t
from
finding G o v e r n m e n t t i m e for its discussion. I n all p r o c e e d i n g s
o n it G o v e r n m e n t s u p p o r t e r s s h o u l d b e allowed a free v o t e .
(d) I n t h e H o u s e of L o r d s t h e r e w a s a great b o d y of a u t h o r i t a t i v e
legal o p i n i o n in f a v o u r of r e t a i n i n g t h e d e a t h p e n a l t y . E v e n if this
Bill s h o u l d p a s s t h e C o m m o n s , it w a s likely t o b e r e j e c t e d b y the
L o r d s . P u b l i c o p i n i o n o n this q u e s t i o n w a s d i v i d e d a n d this w o u l d ,
t h e r e f o r e , b e a p r o p e r o c c a s i o n for t h e exercise of t h e p o w e r of t h e
H o u s e of L o r d s t o d e l a y t h e p a s s a g e of legislation. T h e r e w e r e
a l r e a d y i n d i c a t i o n s of a g r o w i n g v o l u m e of p u b l i c s u p p o r t for t h e
r e t e n t i o n of t h e d e a t h p e n a l t y ; a n d it w a s t o b e e x p e c t e d t h a t this
m o v e m e n t w o u l d g r o w d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d b e t w e e n t h e first r e j e c t i o n
of t h e Bill b y t h e H o u s e of L o r d s a n d its s u b s e q u e n t p r e s e n t a t i o n
to the U p p e r House.
(e) The Prime Minister
said t h a t s o m e G o v e r n m e n t s u p p o r t e r s
h a d s u g g e s t e d t o h i m t h a t this issue s h o u l d b e d e c i d e d b y a
r e f e r e n d u m . T o t h e s e s u g g e s t i o n s h e p r o p o s e d to r e p l y t h a t this
w a s essentially a m a t t e r for d e c i s i o n b y P a r l i a m e n t itself a n d t h a t t h e
h o l d i n g of a r e f e r e n d u m o n it w o u l d d e r o g a t e f r o m t h e s o v e r e i g n t y
of P a r l i a m e n t .
T h e C a b i n e t t h e n c o n s i d e r e d t h e t e r m s of t h e s t a t e m e n t w h i c h
t h e H o m e S e c r e t a r y p r o p o s e d to m a k e a b o u t t h e exercise of t h e
p r e r o g a t i v e of m e r c y in m u r d e r cases d u r i n g t h e i n t e r v a l b e f o r e a
final d e c i s i o n o n this q u e s t i o n w a s t a k e n b y P a r l i a m e n t . T h e t e r m s
of his p r o p o s e d s t a t e m e n t w e r e set o u t in p a r a g r a p h 4 of C P . (56) 4 3 .
The Home Secretary
s a i d t h a t , o n f u r t h e r reflection, h e t h o u g h t
it m i g h t b e p r e f e r a b l e n o t to s t a t e t h a t , in d e c i d i n g w h e t h e r t o
r e c o m m e n d t h e exercise of t h e p r e r o g a t i v e of m e r c y in a n y p a r t i c u l a r
c a s e , h e w o u l d b e influenced b y t h e views o n t h e s u b j e c t of c a p i t a l
p u n i s h m e n t w h i c h h a d b e e n e x p r e s s e d in t h e H o u s e of C o m m o n s .
H e t h o u g h t it p r e f e r a b l e t o d e a l w i t h this p o i n t in t h e m o r e g e n e r a l
t e r m s w h i c h h a d b e e n u s e d b y M r . C h u t e r E d e , M . P . , in t h e s t a t e m e n t
w h i c h h e h a d m a d e , as H o m e S e c r e t a r y , o n 10th J u n e , 1948. M r . E d e
h a d t h e n s t a t e d t h a t e a c h c a s e w o u l d b e c o n s i d e r e d o n its m e r i t s ,
" r e g a r d b e i n g h a d t o t h e special c o n s i d e r a t i o n s r e l a t i n g to t h a t c a s e
a n d all o t h e r r e l e v a n t c o n s i d e r a t i o n s either of a p u b l i c o r p r i v a t e
nature."
The
Cabinet—
(1) A g r e e d t h a t t h e G o v e r n m e n t s h o u l d find P a r l i a m e n t a r y t i m e
for a S e c o n d R e a d i n g of t h e D e a t h P e n a l t y (Abolition)
Bill i n t r o d u c e d b y M r . S. S i l v e r m a n , M . P . , a n d , if it
o b t a i n e d a S e c o n d R e a d i n g , for f u r t h e r p r o c e e d i n g s o n
t h a t B i l l : a n d i n v i t e d t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r to m a k e a n
a n n o u n c e m e n t t o this effect in t h e H o u s e of C o m m o n s
on the following day.
(2) A u t h o r i s e d t h e H o m e S e c r e t a r y t o m a k e a n e a r l y s t a t e m e n t
in t h e H o u s e of C o m m o n s a b o u t t h e exercise of t h e
p r e r o g a t i v e of m e r c y i n m u r d e r cases, i n t h e t e r m s set
o u t in p a r a g r a p h 4 of C P . (56) 4 3 , subject to t h e
a m e n d m e n t a p p r o v e d i n their discussion a n d n o t e d a b o v e .
Technical
Education.
(Previous
Reference :
C M . (56) 2 n d
Conclusions,
M i n u t e 6.)
7. T h e C a b i n e t h a d b e f o r e t h e m a n o t e by t h e L o r d P r i v y Seal,
t h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for S c o t l a n d a n d t h e M i n i s t e r of E d u c a t i o n
( C P . (56) 40) c o v e r i n g t h e draft of a W h i t e P a p e r o n T e c h n i c a l
E d u c a t i o n w h i c h h a d b e e n p r e p a r e d u n d e r t h e s u p e r v i s i o n of a
C o m m i t t e e of M i n i s t e r s u n d e r t h e C h a i r m a n s h i p of t h e L o r d P r i v y
Seal. T h e y also h a d b e f o r e t h e m a f u r t h e r m e m o r a n d u m b y t h e
L o r d P r i v y Seal ( C P . (56) 46) r e c o m m e n d i n g t h a t t h e references
in t h e d r a f t W h i t e P a p e r t o t e c h n o l o g i c a l e d u c a t i o n at t h e U n i v e r s i t i e s
should be expanded in certain respects.
The Minister
of Education
said t h a t t h e p r o p o s a l s o u t l i n e d in
t h e draft W h i t e P a p e r w e r e d e s i g n e d t o p r o v i d e t h e m a x i m u m r a n g e
of o p p o r t u n i t i e s for t e c h n i c a l e d u c a t i o n at all stages of t h e
ft
e d u c a t i o n a l s y s t e m for p u p i l s of all g r a d e s of m e n t a l c a p a c i t y . O n l y
in this w a y c o u l d w e e x p e c t t o k e e p a b r e a s t of t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of
technical t r a i n i n g in o t h e r c o u n t r i e s . O u r p r o g r a m m e w o u l d b e a r
c o m p a r i s o n w i t h t h a t in t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s ; b u t in the Soviet U n i o n
t h e t r a i n i n g of t e c h n i c i a n s w a s t a k i n g p l a c e at a r a t e w h i c h w o u l d
e n a b l e t h e Soviets to o u t s t r i p W e s t e r n c o u n t r i e s w i t h i n t e n o r t w e n t y
y e a r s . T h e e x p e n d i t u r e of £70 millions p r o p o s e d in t h e W h i t e P a p e r
w o u l d n o t e n a b l e us t o k e e p p a c e w i t h t h e Soviet U n i o n : it w a s
r e l a t e d to t h e r e s o u r c e s , i n c l u d i n g r e s o u r c e s in t e a c h e r s , w h i c h w o u l d
b e at o u r c o m m a n d d u r i n g t h e five-year p e r i o d a n d it c o m p a r e d w i t h
a n earlier p l a n for t h e e x p e n d i t u r e of o n l y £45 millions. W e s h o u l d
h a v e in m i n d a f u r t h e r e x p a n s i o n of o u r efforts after this five-year
p e r i o d ; a n d h e w o u l d t h e r e f o r e prefer t o o m i t t h e w o r d s i n
p a r a g r a p h 93 of t h e W h i t e P a p e r w h i c h i m p l i e d t h a t e x p e n d i t u r e
w i t h i n this p e r i o d w o u l d b e c o n d i t i o n a l o n p r e v a i l i n g e c o n o m i c
c i r c u m s t a n c e s . H e also suggested t h a t p a r a g r a p h 5 of t h e W h i t e
P a p e r s h o u l d b e e x p a n d e d t o refer m o r e fully t o t h e n e e d s of
Commonwealth countries and the Colonies.
I n d i s c u s s i o n t h e following p o i n t s w e r e m a d e : —
(a) I t w a s a g r e e d t h a t p a r a g r a p h 93 of t h e W h i t e P a p e r s h o u l d
b e a m e n d e d as p r o p o s e d b y t h e M i n i s t e r of E d u c a t i o n .
(b) I t w a s s u g g e s t e d t h a t p a r a g r a p h s 105 a n d 106 m i g h t b e
o m i t t e d , as likely to give u n d u e e n c o u r a g e m e n t to t h e p r o v i s i o n of
t e c h n i c a l l i b r a r i e s , financed largely b y E x c h e q u e r g r a n t s . A s a g a i n s t
this it w a s a r g u e d t h a t a d e q u a t e l i b r a r y facilities w e r e essential t o t h e
d e v e l o p m e n t of t e c h n i c a l e d u c a t i o n a n d w o u l d also b e of v a l u e t o
local i n d u s t r y . I t w a s a g r e e d t h a t t h e s e p a r a g r a p h s s h o u l d b e
retained.
(c) I t w a s g e n e r a l l y felt t h a t t h e W h i t e P a p e r w o u l d b e t h o u g h t
t o d e v o t e t o o little a t t e n t i o n t o t e c h n o l o g i c a l e d u c a t i o n a t t h e
Universities a n d m i g h t o n t h a t a c c o u n t a p p e a r to b e u n b a l a n c e d .
T h e further d e v e l o p m e n t of facilities for t e c h n o l o g i c a l e d u c a t i o n at
t h e U n i v e r s i t i e s in t h e p e r i o d .1957-62 c o u l d n o t be f o r e s h a d o w e d
in t h e W h i t e P a p e r , as it w o u l d d e p e n d o n t h e results of t h e
q u i n q u e n n i a l r e v i e w w h i c h w a s n o w b e i n g h e l d ; b u t it w o u l d b e
possible t o e x p a n d C h a p t e r I I of t h e draft s o as t o e x p l a i n t h e r e a s o n s
w h y the G o v e r n m e n t h a d d e c i d e d to b u i l d t h e i r p l a n s for h i g h e r
t e c h n o l o g i c a l e d u c a t i o n o n t h e f o u n d a t i o n s a l r e a d y existing in t h e
Universities a n d t o d e s c r i b e m o r e fully t h e facilities t h a t h a d a l r e a d y
b e e n p r o v i d e d at t h e U n i v e r s i t i e s .
(d) I t w a s a g r e e d t h a t s o m e r e f e r e n c e t o facilities for t e c h n i c a l
e d u c a t i o n for a g r i c u l t u r e s h o u l d b e i n c l u d e d in t h e W h i t e P a p e r .
T h e existing facilities for this p u r p o s e w e r e a d e q u a t e for c u r r e n t
requirements, but they would need to be e x p a n d e d to meet increasing
demands in the future.
(e) A C o m m i t t e e of M i n i s t e r s u n d e r the C h a i r m a n s h i p of t h e
L o r d Privy Seal s h o u l d b e a p p o i n t e d to c o - o r d i n a t e t h e p r o g r a m m e
of technical e d u c a t i o n a n d to supervise its e x e c u t i o n .
The C a b i n e t CD I n v i t e d t h e L o r d Privy Seal, i n c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h t h e
C h a n c e l l o r of t h e E x c h e q u e r a n d t h e M i n i s t e r of
E d u c a t i o n , t o e x p a n d C h a p t e r I I of t h e W h i t e P a p e r
so as t o give a fuller p i c t u r e of t h e facilities t o b e p r o v i d e d
for t e c h n o l o g i c a l e d u c a t i o n at t h e U n i v e r s i t i e s .
(2) I n v i t e d t h e M i n i s t e r of E d u c a t i o n t o a r r a n g e for t h e a m e n d ­
m e n t of t h e W h i t e P a p e r t o t a k e a c c o u n t of t h e p o i n t s
n o t e d in p a r a g r a p h s (a) a n d (d) a b o v e .
(3) Subject t o t h e foregoing C o n c l u s i o n s , a p p r o v e d t h e draft
W h i t e P a p e r a n n e x e d t o C P . (56) 40, a n d a u t h o r i s e d
t h e M i n i s t e r of E d u c a t i o n t o p r e s e n t it t o P a r l i a m e n t in
t h e c o u r s e of t h e following w e e k .
(4) A p p o i n t e d a C o m m i t t e e of M i n i s t e r s consisting
of—
L o r d P r i v y Seal
(Chairman),
L o r d President, M i n i s t e r of E d u c a t i o n , Financial Secretary, Treasury, P a r l i a m e n t a r y U n d e r - S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for S c o t l a n d , t o c o - o r d i n a t e t h e p r o g r a m m e for t e c h n i c a l e d u c a t i o n
e n v i s a g e d in t h e W h i t e P a p e r a n d t o supervise its
execution.
Legislative
8. T h e C a b i n e t c o n s i d e r e d a m e m o r a n d u m b y
Programme
Seal ( C P . (56) 42) o n t h e legislative p r o g r a m m e
1 9 5 5 - 5 6 Session.session.
T h e y also h a d b e f o r e t h e m m e m o r a n d a b y
(Previous
Reference:
C M . (55) 2 7 t h
Conclusions,
M i n u t e 4.)
the L o r d Privy
for t h e c u r r e n t
t h e M i n i s t e r of
P e n s i o n s ( C P . (56) 35 a n d 44) s e t t i n g o u t t h e a r g u m e n t s in f a v o u r
of t h e e a r l y i n t r o d u c t i o n of t h e F a m i l y A l l o w a n c e s ( A m e n d m e n t )
Bill a n d t h e W o r k m e n ' s C o m p e n s a t i o n Bill.
The Lord Privy Seal said t h a t , t h o u g h m a n y Bills h a d b e e n
a b a n d o n e d , t h e r e w a s a n e s t i m a t e d deficit of n e a r l y five w e e k s of
P a r l i a m e n t a r y t i m e b e f o r e t h e s u m m e r recess. T h e R e s t r i c t i v e T r a d e
P r a c t i c e s Bill, a m a j o r p i e c e of legislation w h i c h w a s t o b e t a k e n o n
t h e floor of t h e H o u s e , h a d b e e n i n t r o d u c e d late in t h e session. T h e
C a b i n e t h a d n o w d e c i d e d t h a t t i m e m u s t b e f o u n d for legislation o n
c a p i t a l p u n i s h m e n t a n d it a p p e a r e d t h a t a P u b l i c W o r k s L o a n s Bill
c o u l d n o t b e a v o i d e d . T h e C a b i n e t m i g h t feel it n e c e s s a r y to give
f u r t h e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n t o t h e c l a i m s of t h e F a m i l y A l l o w a n c e s
( A m e n d m e n t ) Bill. B u t h e felt t h a t , in view of t h e c o n g e s t i o n of
t h e P a r l i a m e n t a r y t i m e - t a b l e , t h e r e m a i n i n g Bills listed in t h e A n n e x
t o his m e m o r a n d u m w o u l d h a v e t o b e p o s t p o n e d u n t i l t h e following
session. A s a n e a r n e s t of m e e t i n g t h e u n d e r t a k i n g w h i c h h a d b e e n
given to t h e P u b l i c A c c o u n t s C o m m i t t e e , the Bill t o give s t a t u t o r y
a u t h o r i t y t o t h e D e p a r t m e n t of Scientific a n d I n d u s t r i a l R e s e a r c h
m i g h t b e i n t r o d u c e d i n this session, e v e n t h o u g h it c o u l d m a k e n o
f u r t h e r p r o g r e s s . I n o r d e r t h a t n o q u e s t i o n m i g h t arise t h a t t h e
G o v e r n m e n t w e r e w e a k e n i n g in t h e i r i n t e n t i o n t o i n t r o d u c e a n t i ­
d u m p i n g legislation h e w o u l d a n n o u n c e t h a t it w a s solely o n a c c o u n t
of p r e s s u r e of P a r l i a m e n t a r y b u s i n e s s t h a t t h e I m p o r t s (Special
D u t i e s ) Bill h a d h a d t o b e d e f e r r e d .
T h e following p o i n t s w e r e m a d e in d i s c u s s i o n : —
(a) M i n i s t e r s h a d m o r e t h a n o n c e reaffirmed t h e u n d e r t a k i n g
given in T h e Q u e e n ' s S p e e c h to i n t r o d u c e legislation o n family
a l l o w a n c e s in t h e c u r r e n t session. T h e r e w a s t h e r e f o r e a s t r o n g
case for p r o c e e d i n g w i t h this Bill. O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , p r o p o s a l s t o
i n c r e a s e f a m i l y a l l o w a n c e s w e r e n o t in t u n e w i t h t h e c u r r e n t e c o n o m i c
s i t u a t i o n a n d t h e Bill, a l t h o u g h s h o r t , m i g h t well p r o v e c o n t r o v e r s i a l .
(b) The Colonial Secretary
said t h a t t h e C a r i b b e a n C o n f e r e n c e
h a d r e a c h e d a n a g r e e m e n t w h i c h w a s d u e t o b e signed o n t h e
following d a y a n d h e h a d u n d e r t a k e n t o a t t e m p t to s e c u r e before
t h e s u m m e r recess t h e p a s s a g e of t h e legislation w h i c h w o u l d b e
n e c e s s a r y to p u t t h e a g r e e m e n t i n t o effect. H e also c o n s i d e r e d t h a t
t i m e s h o u l d b e f o u n d i n t h e c u r r e n t session for legislation to v a l i d a t e
c e r t a i n u n d e r t a k i n g s of t h e C o l o n i a l D e v e l o p m e n t C o r p o r a t i o n a n d
t o p r o v i d e for t h e r e o r g a n i s a t i o n of t h e O v e r s e a Civil Service.
(c) I t w a s a g r e e d t h a t , a l t h o u g h legislation o n this subject w o u l d
h a v e t o b e d e f e r r e d u n t i l t h e following session, t h e H o m e S e c r e t a r y
should enter into consultations with the Opposition on the provisions
of t h e p r o p o s e d R e p r e s e n t a t i o n of t h e P e o p l e Bill.
(d) T h e Bill t o give s t a t u t o r y a u t h o r i t y to t h e D . S . I . R . w o u l d
p r o v i d e for a n E x e c u t i v e C o u n c i l i n p l a c e of t h e p r e s e n t A d v i s o r y
(4) A p p o i n t e d a C o m m i t t e e of M i n i s t e r s consisting
of—
L o r d P r i v y Seal
(Chairman),
Lord President, M i n i s t e r of E d u c a t i o n , Financial Secretary, Treasury, P a r l i a m e n t a r y U n d e r - S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for S c o t l a n d , t o c o - o r d i n a t e t h e p r o g r a m m e for technical e d u c a t i o n
e n v i s a g e d i n t h e W h i t e P a p e r a n d to s u p e r v i s e its
execution.
Legislative
8." T h e C a b i n e t c o n s i d e r e d a m e m o r a n d u m b y
Programme
Seal ( C P . (56) 42) o n t h e legislative p r o g r a m m e
1 9 5 5 - 5 6 Session.session. T h e y also h a d b e f o r e t h e m m e m o r a n d a b y
(Previous
Reference:
C M . (55) 27th
Conclusions,
M i n u t e 4.)
the L o r d Privy
for t h e c u r r e n t
t h e M i n i s t e r of
P e n s i o n s ( C P . (56) 35 a n d 44) setting o u t t h e a r g u m e n t s i n f a v o u r
of t h e early i n t r o d u c t i o n of t h e F a m i l y A l l o w a n c e s ( A m e n d m e n t )
Bill a n d t h e W o r k m e n ' s C o m p e n s a t i o n Bill.
The Lord Privy Seal said t h a t , t h o u g h m a n y Bills h a d b e e n
a b a n d o n e d , t h e r e w a s a n e s t i m a t e d deficit of n e a r l y five w e e k s of
P a r l i a m e n t a r y t i m e b e f o r e t h e s u m m e r recess. T h e R e s t r i c t i v e T r a d e
P r a c t i c e s Bill, a m a j o r p i e c e of legislation w h i c h w a s t o b e t a k e n o n
t h e floor of t h e H o u s e , h a d b e e n i n t r o d u c e d l a t e in the session. T h e
C a b i n e t h a d n o w d e c i d e d t h a t t i m e m u s t b e f o u n d for legislation o n
c a p i t a l p u n i s h m e n t a n d it a p p e a r e d t h a t a P u b l i c W o r k s L o a n s Bill
c o u l d n o t b e a v o i d e d . T h e C a b i n e t m i g h t feel it n e c e s s a r y t o give
f u r t h e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n t o t h e claims of t h e F a m i l y A l l o w a n c e s
( A m e n d m e n t ) Bill. B u t h e felt t h a t , in v i e w of t h e c o n g e s t i o n of
t h e P a r l i a m e n t a r y t i m e - t a b l e , t h e r e m a i n i n g Bills listed in t h e A n n e x
t o his m e m o r a n d u m w o u l d h a v e t o b e p o s t p o n e d until t h e following
session. A s a n e a r n e s t of m e e t i n g t h e u n d e r t a k i n g w h i c h h a d b e e n
given t o t h e P u b l i c A c c o u n t s C o m m i t t e e , t h e Bill to give s t a t u t o r y
a u t h o r i t y t o t h e D e p a r t m e n t of Scientific a n d I n d u s t r i a l R e s e a r c h
m i g h t b e i n t r o d u c e d in this session, even t h o u g h it c o u l d m a k e n o
f u r t h e r p r o g r e s s . I n o r d e r t h a t n o q u e s t i o n m i g h t arise t h a t t h e
G o v e r n m e n t w e r e w e a k e n i n g in t h e i r i n t e n t i o n t o i n t r o d u c e a n t i ­
d u m p i n g legislation h e w o u l d a n n o u n c e t h a t it w a s solely o n a c c o u n t
of p r e s s u r e of P a r l i a m e n t a r y business t h a t t h e I m p o r t s (Special
D u t i e s ) Bill h a d h a d t o b e deferred.
T h e following p o i n t s w e r e m a d e in d i s c u s s i o n : —
(a) M i n i s t e r s h a d m o r e t h a n o n c e reaffirmed the u n d e r t a k i n g
given in T h e Q u e e n ' s S p e e c h t o i n t r o d u c e legislation o n family
a l l o w a n c e s in t h e c u r r e n t session. T h e r e w a s t h e r e f o r e a s t r o n g
case for p r o c e e d i n g w i t h this Bill. O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , p r o p o s a l s t o
i n c r e a s e family a l l o w a n c e s w e r e n o t in t u n e w i t h t h e c u r r e n t e c o n o m i c
s i t u a t i o n a n d t h e Bill, a l t h o u g h s h o r t , m i g h t well p r o v e c o n t r o v e r s i a l .
(b) The Colonial Secretary
said t h a t t h e C a r i b b e a n C o n f e r e n c e
h a d r e a c h e d an a g r e e m e n t w h i c h w a s d u e t o b e signed o n the
following d a y a n d h e h a d u n d e r t a k e n t o a t t e m p t to s e c u r e b e f o r e
t h e s u m m e r recess t h e p a s s a g e of t h e legislation w h i c h w o u l d b e
n e c e s s a r y t o p u t t h e a g r e e m e n t i n t o effect. H e also c o n s i d e r e d t h a t
t i m e s h o u l d b e f o u n d in t h e c u r r e n t session for legislation t o v a l i d a t e
c e r t a i n u n d e r t a k i n g s of t h e C o l o n i a l D e v e l o p m e n t C o r p o r a t i o n a n d
t o p r o v i d e for t h e r e o r g a n i s a t i o n of t h e O v e r s e a Civil Service.
(c) I t w a s a g r e e d t h a t , a l t h o u g h legislation o n this subject w o u l d
h a v e to b e d e f e r r e d u n t i l t h e following session, t h e H o m e S e c r e t a r y
should enter into consultations with the Opposition on the provisions
of t h e p r o p o s e d R e p r e s e n t a t i o n of t h e P e o p l e Bill.
(d) T h e Bill t o give s t a t u t o r y a u t h o r i t y t o t h e D . S . I . R . w o u l d
p r o v i d e for a n E x e c u t i v e C o u n c i l in p l a c e of t h e p r e s e n t A d v i s o r y
C o u n c i l . T h e C h a i r m a n a n d t h e S e c r e t a r y of t h e E x e c u t i v e C o u n c i l
h a d b e e n n o m i n a t e d a n d it w o u l d b e e m b a r r a s s i n g if, b e c a u s e t h e
Bill c o u l d n o t b e e n a c t e d i n this session, a y e a r ' s d e l a y s h o u l d e l a p s e
b e f o r e t h e n e w o r g a n i s a t i o n c o u l d b e b r o u g h t i n t o b e i n g . T h e Bill
would not be contentious.
The
Cabinet—
(1) A g r e e d to c o n s i d e r f u r t h e r at a l a t e r m e e t i n g w h e t h e r a n
attempt should be m a d e to enact the Family Allowances
( A m e n d m e n t ) Bill in t h e c u r r e n t session.
(2) I n v i t e d t h e L o r d P r i v y Seal t o d e t e r m i n e t h e r e m a i n d e r of
t h e c o n t e n t of t h e legislative p r o g r a m m e , in c o n s u l t a t i o n
with the Ministers concerned, taking into account the
p o i n t s m a d e i n t h e C a b i n e f s discussion.
National
Insurance
Scheme.
Widows'
Benefits.
(Previous
Reference :
C M . (56) 15th
Conclusions,
M i n u t e 6.)
9. T h e C a b i n e t a g a i n c o n s i d e r e d w h e t h e r a n y i n c r e a s e s h o u l d
b e m a d e in t h e 10s. basic p e n s i o n for w i d o w s .
The Minister of Pensions said t h a t t h e r e w a s n o logical case for
i n c r e a s i n g t h e r a t e of this p e n s i o n . T h e r e w o u l d , h o w e v e r , b e
p o l i t i c a l p r e s s u r e i n f a v o u r of a n i n c r e a s e ; a n d it w o u l d b e
u n f o r t u n a t e if t h e G o v e r n m e n t , h a v i n g t a k e n a s t a n d a g a i n s t m a k i n g
a n i n c r e a s e , w e r e s u b s e q u e n t l y forced t o give w a y .
I n discussion it w a s r e c o g n i s e d t h a t t h e G o v e r n m e n t w o u l d b e
u n d e r s t r o n g p r e s s u r e to i n c r e a s e t h e r a t e of this p e n s i o n , m o r e
especially since t h e y w e r e t a k i n g steps to i n c r e a s e t h e prices of b r e a d
a n d m i l k . O n the o t h e r h a n d , t h e C a b i n e t w e r e i n f o r m e d t h a t feeling
o n this p o i n t a m o n g G o v e r n m e n t s u p p o r t e r s in t h e H o u s e of
C o m m o n s w a s less v e h e m e n t t h a n h a d b e e n e x p e c t e d .
The Chancellor
of the Exchequer
said t h a t in p r e s e n t e c o n o m i c
c i r c u m s t a n c e s h e w o u l d p r e f e r t h a t n o c h a n g e s h o u l d b e m a d e in
r e s p e c t of this p e n s i o n . If it w e r e a g r e e d t h a t t h e r e s h o u l d b e n o
i n c r e a s e in t h e r a t e , h e w o u l d w i t h d r a w his earlier suggestion t h a t
t h e r e s h o u l d b e n o n e w issues.
The
Cabinet—
(1) A g r e e d t h a t n o c h a n g e s h o u l d b e m a d e in t h e existing
p r o v i s i o n for t h e b a s i c IQs. p e n s i o n for w i d o w s .
(2) A u t h o r i s e d t h e M i n i s t e r of P e n s i o n s t o m a k e a n a n n o u n c e ­
m e n t t o this effect in t h e s t a t e m e n t w h i c h h e w a s
p r o p o s i n g to m a k e o n the r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s in t h e r e p o r t
o n w i d o w s ' benefits w h i c h h e h a d r e c e i v e d f r o m t h e
National Insurance Advisory Committee.
Road and Rail
Transport.
10. The Minister of Transport
said t h a t t h e British T r a n s p o r t
C o m m i s s i o n w e r e likely t o i n c u r a deficit of a b o u t £ 6 0 millions o n
their o p e r a t i o n s i n t h e c u r r e n t year. T h i s w o u l d raise their
British
c u m u l a t i v e deficit t o a b o u t £140 millions. T o m e e t this p r o s p e c t i v e
Transport
deficit o n t h e c u r r e n t y e a r s a c c o u n t t h e C o m m i s s i o n p r o p o s e d to
Commission^
Finances.
i n c r e a s e their r e v e n u e b y a b o u t £ 4 0 millions b y a 10 p e r c e n t , i n c r e a s e
in freight c h a r g e s , w h i c h w o u l d bring in a n a d d i t i o n a l £26 millions
(Previous
a y e a r , a n d b y v a r i o u s m i n o r a d j u s t m e n t s of p a s s e n g e r fares. F o r
Reference :
C M . (55) 43rd t h e p r o p o s e d i n c r e a s e in freight charges t h e a u t h o r i t y of t h e M i n i s t e r
w o u l d b e r e q u i r e d , b u t t h e a d d i t i o n a l r e v e n u e from p a s s e n g e r fares
Conclusions,
c o u l d b e r a i s e d b y u s i n g u p t h e u n e x h a u s t e d m a r g i n in t h e 2d.
M i n u t e 5.)
m a x i m u m a u t h o r i s e d b y t h e P a s s e n g e r C h a r g e s S c h e m e , by
e l i m i n a t i n g a n u m b e r of t h e p r e s e n t s u b - s t a n d a r d fares in L o n d o n
a n d , w i t h t h e a p p r o v a l of t h e T r a n s p o r t T r i b u n a l , b y r e m o v i n g
c e r t a i n a n o m a l i e s in t h e existing L o n d o n fares s y s t e m .
The
c
50023- - 2
O
Transport Commission had already submitted to the T r a n s p o r t
T r i b u n a l a c o m p r e h e n s i v e s c h e m e for freight c h a r g e s w h i c h w o u l d
a l l o w t h e m g r e a t e r flexibility in their freight c h a r g e s . I t h a d b e e n
h o p e d t h a t this s c h e m e w o u l d b e i n t r o d u c e d by M a y this y e a r , b u t
owing to the n u m e r o u s representations which had been m a d e by
i n d u s t r y a b o u t its details it n o w s e e m e d unlikely t h a t it c o u l d b e
i n t r o d u c e d b e f o r e t h e e n d of t h e y e a r . T h e p r o p o s e d 10 p e r c e n t ,
i n c r e a s e w o u l d t h e r e f o r e a p p l y to t h e existing s c h e m e of freight
charges.
A f u r t h e r p r o b l e m w h i c h faced t h e C o m m i s s i o n w a s a s e t t l e m e n t
of t h e s u p e r a n n u a t i o n s c h e m e for t h e i r e m p l o y e e s . T h e p r e s e n t
financial a r r a n g e m e n t s of the C o m m i s s i o n w e r e n o t e n t i r e l y
satisfactory. D i s c u s s i o n s w e r e in p r o g r e s s b e t w e e n t h e C o m m i s s i o n
a n d the T r e a s u r y a b o u t t h e c o n t r o l of c a p i t a l i n v e s t m e n t .
There
w o u l d b e a d v a n t a g e in e x p a n d i n g t h e s c o p e of these d i s c u s s i o n s t o
c o v e r t h e g e n e r a l a c c o u n t i n g s y s t e m of t h e C o m m i s s i o n . I t w o u l d
not be necessary to m a k e a public a n n o u n c e m e n t about an internal
r e v i e w of this n a t u r e .
I n discussion c o n c e r n w a s e x p r e s s e d a b o u t t h e effect of t h e
p r o p o s e d i n c r e a s e of 10 p e r cent, in freight c h a r g e s in r a i s i n g
m a n u f a c t u r i n g costs a n d t h u s i m p a i r i n g t h e c o m p e t i t i v e p o w e r of
British i n d u s t r y in e x p o r t m a r k e t s . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , it w a s
r e c o g n i s e d t h a t t h e r e w o u l d b e political o b j e c t i o n s t o r a i s i n g
p a s s e n g e r fares w i t h o u t m a k i n g s o m e i n c r e a s e in freight c h a r g e s .
T h e r e c e n t w a g e s s e t t l e m e n t h a d i n c r e a s e d t h e w a g e bill of t h e
C o m m i s s i o n b y £ 3 0 millions. T h o u g h t h e r e w e r e a d v a n t a g e s i n
b r i n g i n g h o m e t o t h e p u b l i c t h e close c o n n e c t i o n b e t w e e n this
i n c r e a s e in the w a g e bill a n d t h e s u b s e q u e n t i n c r e a s e in fares b y
m a k i n g t h e a d j u s t m e n t as s o o n as possible, t h e r e m i g h t well b e
criticism t h a t t h e w a g e i n c r e a s e h a d b e e n g r a n t e d p r e c i p i t a t e l y .
Several M i n i s t e r s s u g g e s t e d t h a t t h e C a b i n e t s h o u l d h a v e a
f u r t h e r o p p o r t u n i t y t o c o n s i d e r these p r o p o s a l s b e f o r e a final d e c i s i o n
was taken.
The
Cabinet—
I n v i t e d t h e M i n i s t e r of T r a n s p o r t to circulate a m e m o ­
r a n d u m o n t h e financial p o s i t i o n of t h e British T r a n s p o r t
C o m m i s s i o n a n d their p r o p o s a l s for i n c r e a s i n g t h e i r
revenue.
Malaya.
(Previous
Reference :
C. M . (56) 9th
Conclusions,
M i n u e 7.)
1 1 . T h e Cabinet had before them a m e m o r a n d u m
C o l o n i a l S e c r e t a r y ( C P . (56) 47) c o v e r i n g the r e p o r t
C o n f e r e n c e o n C o n s t i t u t i o n a l A d v a n c e in M a l a y a .
by
of
the
the
The Colonial Secretary said t h a t in A n n e x C of his m e m o r a n d u m
he h a d listed t h e m a i n p o i n t s t o w h i c h he w i s h e d to d r a w t h e a t t e n t i o n
of t h e C a b i n e t . All t h e issues before t h e C o n f e r e n c e h a d b e e n s e t t l e d
amicably and the agreed recommendations were within the scope
of t h e a u t h o r i t y w h i c h h e h a d b e e n given b y t h e C a b i n e t o n
17th J a n u a r y . T h e C o n f e r e n c e of R u l e r s in M a l a y a w e r e m e e t i n g
o n 2 8 t h F e b r u a r y t o c o n s i d e r t h e r e p o r t , a n d h e w o u l d like to b e
a b l e to i n f o r m t h e H i g h C o m m i s s i o n e r in M a l a y a before t h a t d a t e
of t h e G o v e r n m e n t s views o n t h e r e p o r t .
I n discussion t h e following p o i n t s w e r e m a d e : —
(a) All the r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s r e l a t i n g to defence a n d i n t e r n a l
security h a d b e e n c o n s i d e r e d a n d a p p r o v e d by t h e Chiefs of Staff
a n d t h e M i n i s t e r of D e f e n c e .
(b) The Chancellor
of the Exchequer
said t h a t t h e
financial
a r r a n g e m e n t s a p p e a r e d t o b e satisfactory. A l t h o u g h h e h a d n o t y e t
h a d a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o s t u d y t h e m in detail, h e w a s p r e p a r e d t o a c c e p t
t h e financial a n d e c o n o m i c r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s listed in A n n e x C of
C P . (56) 47 o n t h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h a t t h e y reflected fully t h e p o s i t i o n
agreed by the Conference.
(c) T h e o u t c o m e of t h e C o n f e r e n c e w o u l d b e generally w e l c o m e d
b y o t h e r m e m b e r s of t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h .
I n t h e F e d e r a t i o n of
M a l a y a a f u n d of g o o d w i l l h a d b e e n built u p a n d it w o u l d b e u n w i s e
t o a t t e m p t t o p o s t p o n e t h e m e e t i n g of t h e R u l e r s .
The
Cabinet—
(1) A p p r o v e d t h e r e p o r t of t h e C o n f e r e n c e o n C o n s t i t u t i o n a l
A d v a n c e in M a l a y a , i n c l u d i n g t h e p r o p o s a l s for t h e
Constitutional
Commission
as
approved
by
the
Conference.
(2) A u t h o r i s e d t h e C o l o n i a l S e c r e t a r y t o i n f o r m t h e H i g h
C o m m i s s i o n e r in M a l a y a of t h e G o v e r n m e n t s a t t i t u d e
to the report.
Cyprus.
(Previous
Reference
:
C M . (56) 8th
Conclusions,
M i n u t e 4.)
12. The Colonial Secretary
said t h a t t h e G o v e r n o r of C y p r u s
w a s n o w o n the p o i n t of c o n c l u d i n g his discussions w i t h A r c h b i s h o p
M a k a r i o s . O n t h e m a i n issues w h i c h h a d p r e v i o u s l y b e e n discussed
by the Cabinet, the G o v e r n o r a n d the Archbishop had come very
n e a r to r e a c h i n g a n a g r e e m e n t . A t this final stage, h o w e v e r , t h e
A r c h b i s h o p h a d p u t t h e a g r e e m e n t in j e o p a r d y b y asking for a n
a m n e s t y for all political offenders in C y p r u s , i n c l u d i n g t h o s e n o w
lying u n d e r s e n t e n c e of d e a t h . T h e G o v e r n o r w a s m o s t r e l u c t a n t
t o m a k e a n y offer of a n a m n e s t y u n t i l t h e A r c h b i s h o p h a d a b j u r e d
t h e u s e of violence a n d h a d given p r a c t i c a l p r o o f of his ability t o
i n d u c e his followers t o a b a n d o n it.
The
Cabinet—
I n v i t e d t h e C o l o n i a l S e c r e t a r y to s u b m i t a m e m o r a n d u m
defining t h e s t a g e r e a c h e d in t h e discussions b e t w e e n t h e
G o v e r n o r of C y p r u s a n d A r c h b i s h o p M a k a r i o s , a n d
r e s e r v e d their decision o n t h e q u e s t i o n of a n a m n e s t y in
C y p r u s u n t i l t h e y h a d h a d a n o p p o r t u n i t y of c o n s i d e r i n g
this m e m o r a n d u m .
Nuclear
Weapons.
T e s t s in 1957.
(Previous
Reference :
C M . (55) 46th
Conclusions,
M i n u t e 1.) '
13. j y Minister
of Defence
said t h a t p l a n n i n g for t h e series
of n u c l e a r w e a p o n tests t o b e h e l d in t h e S o u t h - W e s t Pacific in t h e
s p r i n g of 1957 w a s n o w r e a c h i n g the stage w h e n s o m e i n f o r m a t i o n
a b o u t t h e o p e r a t i o n , w h i c h h a d h i t h e r t o b e e n confined to a strictly
limited n u m b e r of p e o p l e , w o u l d h a v e t o b e given a wider c i r c u l a t i o n
if
necessary p r e p a r a t i o n s w e r e to b e c o m p l e t e d in t i m e . F o r
e x a m p l e , t h e military a d v a n c e p a r t y , consisting of v o l u n t e e r s , w a s
d u e to leave this c o u n t r y b y m i d - J u n e . A d r e d g e r w o u l d also h a v e
t o b e c h a r t e r e d in A u s t r a l i a for d e e p e n i n g t h e h a r b o u r facilities a t
C h r i s t m a s I s l a n d . T h e s e o v e r t p r e p a r a t i o n s w o u l d increase the risk
t h a t k n o w l e d g e of t h e o p e r a t i o n w o u l d l e a k o u t . T h e Minister of
Supply h a d therefore suggested that a short announcement about
t h e tests s h o u l d b e m a d e d u r i n g t h e f o r t h c o m i n g D e f e n c e d e b a t e .
7 e
t
n
e
I n discussion, d o u b t s w e r e e x p r e s s e d a b o u t t h e n e e d t o m a k e
a n official a n n o u n c e m e n t so far in a d v a n c e of t h e d a t e p r o p o s e d
for t h e tests. S u c h a n a n n o u n c e m e n t w o u l d s t i m u l a t e political c o n ­
t r o v e r s y o n t h e g e n e r a l q u e s t i o n of n u c l e a r tests, w h i c h might b e m o r e
e m b a r r a s s i n g t h a n a n unofficial l e a k a g e a b o u t the o p e r a t i o n . All
n e c e s s a r y p r e p a r a t i o n s s h o u l d t h e r e f o r e p r o c e e d a n d t h e risk of a n
unofficial l e a k a g e a b o u t t h e o p e r a t i o n s h o u l d b e a c c e p t e d .
The
Cabinet—
Agreed that
w e a p o n tests
forward, but
m a d e for t h e
Cabinet
Office,
S.W.1,
22nd February,
1956.
all n e c e s s a r y p r e p a r a t i o n s for t h e n u c l e a r
i n t h e S o u t h - W e s t Pacific in 1957 s h o u l d g o
that no announcement about t h e m should be
time being.