HC Deb 28 January 1937 vol 319 cc1052-3
28. Wing-Commander James

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the increasing intrusion of the Press upon the private lives of citizens, as instanced by the disclosures at an inquest held on 19th January that, failing to be given information by a harassed family at a time of great personal sorrow and having telephoned to the elderly widow at one a.m., certain organs of the Press published untrue, sensational, and painful details of the case; and whether any action can now be devised to check such abuses of the liberty of the Press?

Sir J. Simon

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave on Monday last to my hon. Friend the Member for South Kensington (Sir W. Davison).

Wing-Commander James

Having regard to the very strong feeling that this matter arouses in all parts of the House, is the House likely to have an opportunity in the ordinary course of discussing it?

Sir J. Simon

That, of course, would not be for me to say. I should not have thought that the matter was relevant to any Vote, but of course there are other occasions.

Wing-Commander James

In that case, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter on the Adjournment.