HC Deb 23 November 1955 vol 546 cc1462-4
The Prime Minister (Sir Anthony Eden)

I will with permission, Mr. Speaker, make a statement about the appointment of a Conference of Privy Councillors to consider security precautions.

I have discussed the matter with the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition, and the Conference will now consist of the following Privy Councillors:

  • My noble Friend the Lord President of the Council.
  • My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor.
  • My right hon. and gallant Friend the Home Secretary.
  • The noble and learned Earl, Lord Jowitt.
  • The right hon. Gentleman the Member for Lewisham, South (Mr. H. Morrison).
  • The right hon. Gentleman the Member for Vauxhall (Mr. G. R. Strauss).
  • The Permanent Secretary to Her Majesty's Treasury.
The terms of reference for the Conference will be: To examine the security procedures now applied in the public services and to consider whether any further precautions are called for and should be taken.

Mr. Bellenger

Although I can understand the considerations which have led the right hon. Gentleman to set up what is almost a closed shop, may I ask him whether there will be any report to Parliament as a result of the deliberations of these gentlemen?

The Prime Minister

I do not think it is a closed shop. It is composed of Members of both sides of the House who have had considerable experience of these matters, and, I think rightly, we have both of us excluded, in the main, those with direct Foreign Office responsibility during the period when this matter was under discussion. We have also chosen with great care, from both sides of the House, Home Secretaries and past Home Secretaries with special experience of this matter.

The report will be made to me, and as to whether any changes are required in the law or otherwise, that is, of course, for this Conference to recommend. If the Conference should recommend changes in the law or anything of that kind, clearly they would be for reference to this House.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

Could the Prime Minister say whether this is to be another branch of the Secret Service? If so, how will ordinary mortals be able to make up their minds about this? How far are the public and other hon. Members going to know anything about it?

The Prime Minister

I thought that the selection of leaders from both parties which I have announced would inspire confidence in the breast of the hon. Gentleman. If it does not, I am afraid that it is beyond me to provide a cure for him.

Mr. M. Lindsay

Does my right hon. Friend appreciate that the anxiety that some of us have about this body is that it consists of such very busy men that they may not be able to probe to the extent that should be done? I should, therefore, like to know whether my right hon. Friend proposes to attach to this body, in the secretariat or whatever it may be, sufficient staff to be able to assist the body in any probes that may be desirable.

The Prime Minister

The Conference will have full powers to send for any persons or papers that may be required; but for the rest, I think my hon. Friend will realise that it has been hard to choose persons with more experience of these matters than those who have been placed on this Conference.

Mr. Daines

While recognising that there must be certain parts of the report of the Conference which must be confidential on security grounds, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will not agree that there are other aspects of the matter upon which a public report would be welcome? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is still profound disquiet arising out of the debate on Maclean and Burgess, as was instanced yesterday? Will the right hon. Gentleman please consider what information can be released to the public consistent with safety?

The Prime Minister

This report is to be made to me, and this is exactly in accordance with what I informed the House in the closing stages of our debate on the subject. It will certainly be open to this Conference to examine the steps which have been taken to increase our security since the Maclean and Burgess affair. I think it will be valuable that those who were not then in office should examine those steps which were taken to see what action is necessary.

Mr. Rankin

Do I take it from the Prime Minister's last reply that terms of reference are to be given to this Conference?

The Prime Minister

I read the terms of reference as clearly as I could.