§ 46. Miss Irene Wardasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the wide publicity given to vital secret operations during the war, he has appointed any authority to ensure that no vital information is disclosed and no breach of the Official Secrets Act is committed.
§ The Prime MinisterAll persons who have held office under the Crown are under an obligation to consult the Government of the day in regard to the publication of information obtained by virtue of their official position and to obtain formal permission in any doubtful case. The procedure which has been established for this purpose was fully explained in a statement made to this House by my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council on 1st August, 1946. I am sending the hon. Member a 851 copy of this statement, which sets out the authorities from whom permission to publish must be obtained.
§ Miss WardIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a great deal of disquiet on this subject? Have all the broadcasts that have been made by the B.B.C. been vetted by the appropriate authorities? Will he personally receive representations from anybody who cares to make them?
§ The Prime MinisterI am not aware of this disquiet, and I am not aware that there has been very extensive broadcasting by persons in this position. The hon. Lady asks whether all the broadcasts have been vetted. Obviously, if there were some particular instance involving broadcasting by someone who held an official position, then it would be right that leave should be sought.
§ Miss WardHas the right hon. Gentleman listened to any of the broadcasts called "Now it can be told"?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, I have not.