§ 52. Mr. Sorensenasked the Prime Minister whether he will consider arranging for private Sessions of the House from which strangers are excluded with the exception of Official Reporters; and whether, in the public interest, an Official Report of certain privates Debates will be published after due editing and excision of any statements made likely to be of assistance to the enemy?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. I fear that I cannot adopt my hon. Friend's proposal.
§ Mr. SorensenDoes the right hon. Gentleman not agree that it is preferable to have a limited kind of publicity in the form described in the Question? Would it not go some way towards avoiding the difficulties of having a Secret Session?
§ The Prime MinisterI think a Session must be either open or secret. The whole tone of the discussion is influenced by that fact. I do not think you could have it edited without obtaining the consent of every Member, not only as to what is cut out of his speech but as to the remaining contents. Mr. Speaker does provide a very brief account of Secret Sessions which is given to the public, and that, I think, has met with general approval.
§ Mr. SorensenCould not we have some fuller statement regarding Secret Sessions?
§ Mr. A. BevanWould not the solution to the difficulty be to have our Secret Sessions with far more discrimination?
§ Mr. WoodburnWould it not be wise, and would it not save the energy of Ministers, to have the Departmental Chiefs present in order that notes may be taken of Members' suggestions in a far fuller way than is possible by the Members themselves?
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. Member's suggestion entails the alteration of our procedure. One has to be careful in considering such a suggestion.