HC Deb 24 July 1952 vol 504 c750
41. Mr. Wigg

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances Mr. Alan Moorehead applied for permission to visit the prisoners Fuchs and Nunn May; and whether permission was granted.

Sir D. Maxwell Fyfe

Mr. Moorehead asked last year for permission to interview Fuchs in prison as he proposed to write a book about him. He was told that his request could not be granted. He did not ask for permission to visit Nunn May in prison, and has not, in fact, visited either of these prisoners.

Mr. Wigg

Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman agree that it was quite improper for Mr. Moorehead to have made an approach to the Home Secretary when he was a senior member of the Civil Service without, at the same time, informing his Departmental Minister or the Permanent Secretary that he proposed to take this action?

Sir D. Maxwell Fyfe

As that is a hypothetical question, and as it concerns a period before I was in office, I do not think I should answer it.