23 MARCH 1934, Page 3

The big debate in the House was concerned with Imperial

Defence. Mr. Attlee made a most notably impartial and reasonable plea for a Ministry of Defence, which was countered by the Prime Minister with a description of how the existing machinery obtained all the co-ordination at present humanly possible. The House was deeply interested in both these main speeches, and the advocates of a Ministry of Defence had the satisfaction of finding that their ideas have gained weight in effect if not in form. Another good debate was provided by Sir Herbert Samuel's attack upon the beet sugar subsidy. For once he had the better of Mr. Elliot, who appeared to be defending something of which he did not wholly approve.