§ 23. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Attorney-General if he will introduce legislation for the purpose of preventing the publication in newspapers of articles written by persons in prison charged with murder.
§ The Attorney-GeneralI cannot give any undertaking as to legislation, but I can assure the hon. Member that this question is being carefully examined, with particular relation to the provision of funds for the defence of the person charged. I will gladly consider any further information or representations 1700 from hon. Members in this connection, but I am not at present in a position to make any statement.
§ Mr. HughesIs there not a possibility that the enormous sensational publicity given to the Christie memoirs might conceivably lead to other morbid-minded people imitating the crime? If unsavoury details about divorce cases are expunged from the newspapers, with an improvement in the Press, why should there not be legislation to prohibit this enormous publicity?
§ The Attorney-GeneralI do not think it would be right for me to make any comment on the matter in view of the fact that the whole subject is under consideration. We should bear in mind, however, that great care must be exercised before imposing any kind of Press censorship.
§ Mr. WoodburnWhen looking into this question, will the hon. and learned Gentleman look into the much stricter conduct that is imposed by the courts in Scotland in regard to publicity that might affect judicial proceedings?
§ The Attorney-GeneralI am obliged to the right hon. Gentleman for giving me information of that kind and directing my attention to what goes on in these foreign lands.
§ Mr. HollisIs an offence committed when a body offering money for the defence in a criminal case attaches to that offer conditions as to the way in which the case shall be conducted?
§ The Attorney-GeneralIt would be necessary to know exactly what those conditions were. In some cases I imagine that the answer would be "Yes," and in other cases it would be "No."
§ Mr. S. SilvermanWhen considering this question, will the hon. and learned Gentleman consider how far the evil might be minimised, or prevented altogether, if the Legal Aid and Advice Act were extended so as to cover the defence of poor persons in serious criminal cases? Will he consider how handicapped and embarrassed a poor person is in a capital case when, although his case may be presented in court quite adequately and efficiently by the generosity of counsel and others, the whole investigation on which that presentment must rest is handicapped by the absence of any facilities or funds?
§ The Attorney-GeneralI quite agree with that point of view. If there were to be any limitation placed upon the accused person to contribute to his defence, I think that the point raised by the hon. Member would certainly have to be borne in mind.