§ 45. Mr. OSWALD LEWISasked the Prime Minister if he will set up a committee to inquire as to the working of laws relating to the Press in other countries with a view to considering the possibility of securing to past and present Ministers of the Crown whose actions are criticised in any newspaper a statutory right of reply in the columns of the newspaper in question?
Mr. A. HENDERSONThe Prime Minister has no reason to suppose that the Press of this country would deny past or present Ministers of the Crown the right to reply to criticisms of their actions in any newspapers, and in these circumstances he sees no need for the appointment of a committee such as the hon. Member suggests.
§ Mr. LEWISIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that similar legislation has been found to work extremely well in France and Germany?