§ 28 and 30. Dame Irene Wardasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether he is aware that the files of Special Operations Executive agents operating in Europe have been made available by foreign countries to British writers; and on what grounds they are debarred only in this country;
(2) whether he is aware that Special Operations Executive files on agents who did not return from operations in the field are not made available to historians, thus precluding a record of their gallant services being made available to the public; and if he will take steps to ensure that the relatives of those who did not return shall have as much satisfaction as those of agents who returned and have been able to write about their exploits.
§ Lord John HopeI will, with permission, answer these two Questions together.
§ Dame Irene WardOh, no, Mr. Speaker; I am afraid that I cannot allow that.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Lady might wait to hear the answer. If she is not 364 satisfied she might consider a supplementary question.
§ Dame Irene WardThese are two entirely different Questions.
§ Mr. SpeakerThey might be covered by the same answer.
§ Dame Irene WardBut they cannot.
§ Mr. UsborneWould you explain to me, Mr. Speaker, what is the point of a Minister requesting permission of the House to answer two Questions together if, in fact, we are not able to refuse that permission? What is the point of asking for it? Surely it is because the Minister may do it only if he is given that permission.
§ Mr. SpeakerIt really is a courtesy phrase used by Ministers; certainly ever since I have been in the House. Surely the adequacy of the answer cannot be judged until it has been given.
§ Dame Irene WardWould you be so kind, Mr. Speaker, as to read the two Questions? You will find that one refers to action by foreign countries and one refers to our own agents who were dropped in foreign countries. They are two entirely and absolutely separate Questions. Further, if I am not to have two separate answers, I will, if you are polite enough to call me, put a much worse supplementary question.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe threat of the hon. Lady leaves me quite unmoved. I think she had better hear the answer first.
§ Lord John HopeThe following is the reply:
Special Operations Executive was a secret wartime organisation much of whose activity must, in the public interest, remain secret. For this reason the organisation's files cannot be made available to the public. A limited amount of information which is not secret can, however, be provided in certain cases, and no distinction is drawn between the records of those who returned and those who did not.
§ Dame Irene WardIn view of the fact that official people have been refused access to the files—of course, I quite agree that one must have proper regard for security—may I, in order that the 365 monstrous injustice to these agents who did not return, should be rectified, and if I give my noble Friend an undertaking to submit any manuscript to the Foreign Office, have access to the files? That will fit in with the answer which my noble Friend has given to my Question.
§ Lord John Hoperose—
§ Dame Irene WardI want a specific answer, Mr. Speaker, or I shall think that the Foreign Office has something to hide.
§ Lord John Hoperose—
§ Dame Irene WardA specific answer, please.
§ Lord John HopeThere is nobody whom I would rather please than the hon. Lady—[HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear."]—but, be the consequences to me what they may, she cannot have special treatment. I regret it.
§ Mr. LewisIs the Minister aware that for some six months, two and a half years ago I put a whole series of questions on this disgusting episode and that the Foreign Office did cover up? If the noble Lord has the time, will he read the excellent book "London Calling the North Pole" by Colonel Giskes, when he will be ashamed at what happened under this Department's Special Operations Executive?
§ Lieut.-Colonel CordeauxIs my noble Friend aware that far too much harm has already been done by amateur authors rushing into print and cashing in on their two years' war-time experience of our secret services? Before encouraging such publications, and before allowing access to the files by hon. Members of this House or anyone else, will my noble Friend safeguard the few remaining secrets in our methods of work and, if necessary, invoke the Official Secrets Act for the purpose?
§ Lord John HopeCertainly, we are bound first and foremost to bear security in mind.
§ Dame Irene WardMay I ask my noble Friend if he will kindly authorise an official history so that people like Diana Rowden, Violette Szabo, Lilian Rolfe, etc., etc., and all those other girls and the men who were with them, can have as much glory as other agents have got, 366 and that information which other people have got shall no longer be denied to their relatives? It is a monstrous injustice.
§ Lord John HopePerhaps my hon. Friend will put down another Question.