§ 38. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Postmaster-General whether listening-in in respect to telephone conversations is still continued in any official Department or in the office of any Minister of the Crown; and whether the record of any such conversations is kept?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYI would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my answers to the hon. Member for Stratford on the 4th of this month, and the Noble Lord the Member for Battersea on the 21st March, which both relate to this subject.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether there is any machine or instrument for recording such conversations?
§ Viscount CURZONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have never asked any question relating to Ministers of the Crown?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYI do not quite understand what my hon. and gallant Friend means by instruments for recording conversations.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODAre there any automatic instruments for recording these conversations, or have they to be listened in by the persons?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYI have never in any answer said that the system of listening-in has been adopted in Government Departments. There is no recording instrument, 60 far as I am aware, which will record this or any other conversation.
§ Mr. WATERSONIS the practice of listening-in adopted or not?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYI have said repeatedly that, except where we are asked to do so by the police, there is no listening-in. Even then it would not be done except by my personal sanction.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODThere is no such instrument installed in Downing Street, that is certain?