§ 45. Mr. Haydn Daviesasked the Prime Minister whether he is in a position to announce the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into the Press, its membership and terms of reference.
§ 46. Mr. Butcherasked the Prime Minister if he will now give the names of the chairman and other members of the Royal Commission on the Press; and if he will state the terms of reference.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Attlee)Yes, Sir. The King has been pleased to approve the setting up of a Royal Commission to inquire into the Press, with the following terms of reference:
With the object of furthering the free expression of opinion through the Press and the greatest practicable accuracy in the presentation of news, to inquire into the control, management and ownership of the newspaper and periodical Press and the news agencies, including the financial structure and the monopolistic tendencies in control, and to make recommendations thereon.The membership of the Royal Commission is as follows:
- Sir (William) David Ross, K.B.E., D.Litt. (Chairman).
- The Reverend Melbourn Evans Aubrey, C.H.
- Mr. Neil S. Beaton.
- Mr. John Benstead, C.B.E.
- Lady Violet Bonham Carter.
- Mr. Robert Charles Kirkwood Ensor.
- Mr. Hubert Hull, C.B.E.
- Miss Eirwen Mary Owen, O.B.E.
- Mr. John Boynton Priestley.
- Alderman Wright Robinson.
- Mr. Gilbert Granville Sharp.
- Lord Simon of Wythenshawe, LL.D., M.I.C.E., M.I.Mech.E.
- Sir (Charles) Geoffrey Vickers, V.C.
- Sir George Alexander Waters, J.P.
- Mr. Reginald Holmes Wilson.
- Mrs. Barbara Frances Wootton.
- Mr. George Malcolm Young, C.B.
§ Mr. DaviesWhile thanking my right hon. Friend for his most excellent and satisfactory reply, could I ask him whether the Royal Warrant of Appointment will confer adequate powers upon the Commission to discharge their functions, and whether the Tribunal of Inquiry (Evidence) Act, 1921, will apply to the Commission? Lastly, may I ask him whether all the evidence will be taken in public, and afterwards printed in full, seeing that all newspapers may not, in self defence, want to print all the evidence?
§ The Prime MinisterWith regard to the first point, the right is reserved, if it is thought necessary in the course of the Commission's inquiry, to ask Parliament to apply to the Commission the provisions of the Tribunal of Inquiry (Evidence) Act, 1921. With regard to the procedure, that is a matter for the Royal Commission themselves to settle.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydMay I ask whether the proposed new 600 local newspapers to be tied to the Socialist Party will start publication before or after the Royal Commission reports?
§ The Prime MinisterI am afraid I have no information on that subject.
§ Mr. NallyIs the Prime Minister quite satisfied that the Royal Commission's terms of reference are sufficiently wide to permit a full investigation into the circumstances under which a newspaper of the "Express" group continues to pay bribes to Members of this House to supply reports of private and confidential meetings in this House?
§ Mr. Oliver StanleyOn a point of Order. The hon. Gentleman has said that a newspaper is paying bribes to a Member of this House. That means that a Member of this House is accepting bribes. Should not the hon. Member now substantiate that statement, and, if not, is it not a breach of Privilege?
§ Mr. SpeakerTo accuse any hon. Member of accepting bribes is, of course, entirely out of Order. The accusation should never have been made, and it should be withdrawn.
§ Mr. NallyI hasten to withdraw it. Could I ask you, Mr. Speaker, if I could put myself in Order by inserting the word "alleged"?
§ Mr. SpeakerIf the withdrawal is made, it must be complete. It is a most improper accusation.
§ Mr. NallyIn that case, in deference to you, Mr. Speaker, I withdraw. The Royal Commission can, no doubt, pursue the matter further.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Member will please withdraw unreservedly.
§ Mr. NallyIn that case I withdraw unreservedly, and I apologise to you, Sir, for the time you have had to take on this matter.
§ Mr. Godfrey NicholsonOn that point of Order. Even though the allegation has been withdrawn, this must strike at the confidence of the people of this country in the honour of Members of this House. Can the matter be allowed to rest there?
§ Mr. SpeakerI am not certain. I do not think it is a breach of Privilege 1234 because it was withdrawn unreservedly, but that is a matter which might be taken into consideration later on.
§ Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas MooreWill it be erased from HANSARD, Mr. Speaker?
§ Mr. DribergWill my right hon. Friend take any steps he can to see that journalists giving evidence before the Royal Commission are not victimised?
§ The Prime MinisterObviously, if anybody is victimised for giving evidence, that is a matter which will have to be looked into. I do not think that it is a matter to be gone into now on the appointment of the Commission.
§ Mr. EdenMr. Speaker, might I ask your guidance on this matter of Privilege? Did I understand you to say that that matter might be further considered? Is the position that you will have under consideration the question whether or not a breach of Privilege has been made?
§ Mr. SpeakerI would like to consider it, because I am not quite clear in my own mind, but it certainly would not prejudice the matter if it were raised again. I just make it clear that this is not to be regarded as the only opportunity upon which the matter may be raised.