§ 49. Mr. Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the cost of the garden party in the British Embassy in Oslo on Saturday, 26th June; who was invited; and why Mr. Michael F. Cullis, a counsellor at the Embassy, prevented Norwegian newspapermen from attending.
§ The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Anthony Nutting)This garden party was a joint Commonwealth undertaking. It is not yet possible to state what will be the cost that will fall on Her Majesty's Government.
Two thousand two hundred invitations were sent to Commonwealth citizens resident in Norway, and to some Norwegian citizens serving in British and Commonwealth diplomatic and consular posts in Norway. Both British and Norwegian Press reporters were invited as guests to the party and unlimited 1128 facilities were given to Press photographers to photograph the Queen's arrival; but following the practice at Buckingham Palace garden parties no photographers were admitted to the Embassy garden. Her Majesty's Ambassador has received no complaint from any quarter about these arrangements, which were entirely understood and accepted by the Norwegian Press.
It is to be regretted that certain newspapers should have made this matter the occasion for an unjustified personal attack upon a member of the Ambassador's staff without first attempting to check the facts.
§ Mr. LewisIs the Minister aware that all will be pleased to find that at long last one of the false reports contained in British newspapers is contradicted by Her Majesty's Government? Can we have an assurance that if false stories are published in future, the Minister will be pleased to refute them?
§ Mr. NuttingI shall always be pleased to refute, if I am invited to do so in the House of Commons, any inaccuracies.
§ Mr. NicholsonOn a point of order. Is not an hon. Member answerable for the accuracy of statements contained in his Question, Mr. Speaker?
§ Mr. SpeakerAn hon. Member makes himself responsible for the accuracy of any statement in his Question.