HC Deb 19 April 1939 vol 346 cc338-9

The following question stood upon the Order Paper:

31. Mr. Mander

To ask the Prime Minister whether he will state under what statutory or other authority D notices, such as that issued to the Press on 4th April requesting the Press not to publish Lord Stanhope's speech made on that day, are issued; how many such D notices have been issued during the past six months, and how many have been disregarded, and whether these notices are issued to the foreign as well as to the British Press?

Sir William Davison

Before this question is put, may I ask you, Mr. Speaker, whether it is in the national interest that questions of this kind should be continually put with regard to matters of a highly confidential character affecting the defence of the country; and whether you can do anything to prevent such questions being put on the Order Paper?

Mr. Speaker

It is not for me to decide.

Sir W. Davison

Will you appeal to Members not to put questions affecting the defence of the country on the Order Paper?

Mr. Mander

It has nothing to do with defence work.

The Prime Minister

As I explained during the Debate on the Adjournment on 6th April, no D. Notice was issued on 4th April regarding the First Lord's speech, though the Press were asked to treat the request made to them as though it was a D. Notice. Such notices are not issued under any statutory authority. I am informed that 28 D. Notices have been issued during the past six months, and that in no case has the request made in a D. Notice been deliberately disregarded, though in a few cases it has been inadvertently overlooked. The notices are only issued to the British Press.

Mr. Mander

In order to clear up some doubt that exists on this matter, will the Prime Minister say whether it is to be understood that in the event of a D. Notice being disregarded, action under the Official Secrets Act will be taken?

The Prime Minister

I cannot answer such a question without notice.

Mr. Gallacher

Will the Prime Minister make this clear? If a notice is sent out—not a D. Notice, but something which has to be treated as a D. Notice—does it follow that the Press can print or not as they please?

The Prime Minister

We can generally trust the Press to treat these matters with a due sense of responsibility.