HC Deb 16 July 1958 vol 591 c1217
17. Mr. Fernyhough

asked the Secretary of State for War what facilities he will place at the disposal of Members in order that they may check the statements of constituents serving abroad, prior to such statements being submitted to him for investigation.

Mr. Soames

I am glad to investigate any matters put to me by right hon. and hon. Members, and I would not expect them to make preliminary inquiries, particularly when their constituents are serving overseas. I shall certainly not complain if some of the statements made turn out to be incorrect.

Mr. Fernyhough

Does that mean that the right hon. Gentleman is giving us an assurance that, whatever communications we send to him from constituents serving abroad, it will never in any circumstances involve us in any court proceedings?

Mr. Soames

That was rather a broad conclusion to draw from what I said. I was not referring to the legal aspect of it at all, about which, as the hon. Gentleman knows from what the Prime Minister said yesterday, a statement is to be made shortly to the House.

Mr. Strachey

Might it not be reasonable for the right hon. Gentleman to agree that, in so far as it lay in his power, he would not pass on these communications to persons who might take legal action but would regard them as confidential between the Member and himself while they were being investigated? That seems to me the reasonable protection we could ask for.

Mr. Soames

Certainly I will regard any communications marked "confidential" as so being, but I could not give a view as to the legal aspects of that.