§ 39. Colonel Gomme-Duncanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is now in a position to make a further statement on the disappearance of Mr. Burgess and Mr. MacLean.
§ Mr. NuttingNo, Sir.
§ Colonel Gomme-DuncanIs my hon. Friend aware that there is very grave disturbance in the public mind about these happenings and that the sooner some full investigation can be carried out and a report made, without damaging security thereby, the sooner will the public mind be put at rest?
§ Mr. NuttingInquiries are continuing into these cases, as I have often informed the House. As to the possibility of a public inquiry, an open inquiry of this kind could not be held without revealing highly confidential details and methods used in the current investigation and the channels through which inquiry is being conducted. I think that my hon. and gallant Friend would agree that disclosure of such information would be prejudicial to the public interest.