HC Deb 03 July 1958 vol 590 cc1555-6
1. Mr. Lipton

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how a photograph of the Chamber of the House of Commons, with honourable Members present, was obtained for a pamphlet entitled, "This is Britain," prepared by the Central Office of Information.

The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. J. E. S. Simon)

The photograph was obtained from a photographic news agency, which took it, with the permission of the authorities, before the ceremonial opening of the new Chamber. It was first circulated to the Press on 26th October, 1950, and was published by newspapers and periodicals in this country and overseas.

Mr. Lipton

Will the Minister give an assurance that in future the Government will not be a party to a similar breach of precedent, which is an affront to the well-established traditions and dignity of the House, and will he withdraw the offending photograph from further circulation and destroy the existing stocks?

Mr. Simon

I think that supplementary question was prepared for a different answer from the one I have given. The hon. Gentleman has now only got round to the problem some eight years after it occurred.

Mr. Lipton

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. If the Financial Secretary is putting the responsibility on the authorities of the House, presumably the Serjeant at Arms, would you be good enough to indicate now or at a later stage what remedy hon. Members have if the responsibility lies in that particular quarter? It seems to me, Mr. Speaker, if I may say so, that whereas the Serjeant at Arms has the power to remove hon. Members from the House, we have not the power to remove him from anywhere.

Mr. Speaker

This happened about eight years ago, and it is impossible to say how it happened then. I do not think there is any breach of Privilege involved. I remember the photograph quite well. It was taken before this present Chamber was opened, and I do not think any question of Privilege arises.