HC Deb 24 July 1958 vol 592 cc645-6
2. Mr. Lipton

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many interceptions of telephones and letters he authorised during 1957.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department and Lord Privy Seal (Mr. R. A. Butler)

It would not be in the public interest to give the figures for which the hon. Member asks.

Mr. Lipton

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the Report of the Committee of Privy Councillors gave us the figures from 1937 to 1956 without any apparent hurt to the public interest? Would not it be in the public interest to indicate to what extent he is taking into account the recommendations in that Report, and at least say whether the figures for this year are higher or lower than those for last year?

Mr. Butler

No, Sir. I am afraid that would not be in the public interest. In one of the paragraphs of its Report, paragraph 121, the Committee stated that it was of opinion that it would be wrong for the figures to be disclosed by the Secretary of State at regular or irregular intervals in the future. Under the circumstances, I think that I must follow the advice of the Committee.