§ 32. Lieut.-Colonel Cordeauxasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that Dr. Klaus Fuchs, now serving a sentence of 14 years' imprisonment, was recently permitted to accord an interview to a Press correspondent in Wakefield Gaol; why such permission was given; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerThe stated object of the visit to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers was to convey greetings to the prisoner from his father and it was not known when permission was given 1355 that the visitor was a journalist. It is not the practice to allow persons to interview prisoners for the purpose of publication and if it had been known that this was intended, facilities would not have been granted. All possible steps are being taken to avoid a recurrence.
§ Lieut.-Colonel CordeauxAs this interview lasted for half an hour and consisted of 14 specific questions, and as Fuchs' replies, which were reported verbatim, consisted of about 600 words, ought it not to have been obvious to the warder in charge of interviews that in fact a Press interview, rather than the conveyance of greetings from his father, was what was taking place? As this prisoner has probably done more harm to this country than any other individual person in history, will my right hon. Friend consider action in connection with the reply of Fuchs to question No. 6 in that interview, in which he said that on his release in a few months' time it was his intention to go to live in East Germany?
§ Mr. ButlerI understand that the earliest date on which Fuchs could be released is in July of next year, so it would be premature to make any statement at present about the attitude of the Government to the proposal that he should leave this country for East Germany. There is no intention that there should be a recurrence of such an incident, and steps have been taken to see that it does not happen.