HC Deb 01 August 1946 vol 426 cc1207-8
45. Mr. Eden

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement about the policy of His Majesty's Government towards the publication by former Ministers and other persons who have held office under the Crown of books and other writings about their experiences during the war.

The Lord President of the Council (Mr. Herbert Morrison)

I have been asked to reply.

Yes, Sir. It has long been recognised that all persons who have held office under the Crown are under an obligation to consult the Government of the day or the heads of the Departments affected in regard to the publication of any unpublished information which they have obtained by virtue of their official position and to obtain formal permission in any doubtful case.

Former Ministers who wish to make use of such information should apply to the Secretary of the Cabinet, who will consult any Department concerned and submit the matter to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. Other persons who have held office under the Crown, including former members of the Foreign, Colonial and Home Civil Services and the Fighting Services, should apply to the head of their former Department or to the Board of Admiralty, Army Council, or Air Council as the case may be.

In dealing with any such applications His Majesty's Government will distinguish between the position of a former Minister, who has been responsible to Parliament and subject to public criticism, and other former Crown servants, who have not had a Minister's responsibilities. Further they will bear in mind the fact that during the war much information that would ordinarily have been published had to be kept secret for reasons of military security; they will therefore be disposed to allow the greatest practicable freedom in the use of official information about the events of the war period and defence themes in the years immediately preceding the war, subject to no matter being disclosed which would be clearly contrary to the public interest, or would impair the confidential relationships which subsist between Ministers, or between Ministers and their advisers.

Mr. Gammans

Could the right hon. Gentleman say under what authority the Government take the power to censor people's books in this way?

Mr. Morrison

The principle is a well established constitutional custom which has existed under many Governments. Indeed, the Official Secrets Act has a very potent relationship.

Mr. Stokes

Would my right hon. Friend consider whether it would not be for the benefit of posterity if all Ministers were forced to publish all the truth for the benefit of the future?

Mr. Nally

Can we take it from the right hon. Gentleman's reply that every facility will be given to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Southport (Mr. R. S. Hudson), to tell the full and fascinating story of how, as Minister of Agriculture, he also became Britain's foremost farmer?

Mr. Speaker

That is another question.