HC Deb 17 March 1958 vol 584 cc924-6
Mr. Lewis

I desire to raise with you, Mr. Speaker, a matter of great urgency and, I think, of great importance. I wish to ask you whether or not it is a matter of Privilege or something on which you could advise and guide the House.

During the weekend, in most of the reputable newspapers including the Sunday Express, there was an article which said—and I quote from the Sunday Express: M.P.s hunt for man behind the Tory leaks. Commons searched for hidden mikes. Then it goes on to say: Two rooms in the House of Commons have been searched for hidden microphones. The search was part of an intensive effort to solve the mystery of how accurate verbatim accounts of secret Tory meetings have reached the Press". It also says: Room Number 14 was given the most thorough examination of all, after certain M.P.s had put forward the theory that it might be wired with a microphone capable of relaying the discussion to other parts of the building. I see that you have a copy of the newspaper there, Mr. Speaker. You will see further down the column that not only are the Whips furious about this, but that Ministers are now getting to the stage where they cannot give any confidential information to the 1922 Committee.

I know that you have previously ruled on the question of party meetings upstairs not being subject to Privilege, but this is a different question, because statements are made in this newspaper that Committee rooms have been wired for microphones. [Laughter.] It is not a laughing matter. This is very serious. This is what we read of in the police State. I should like to know whether we can do anything to have an investigation made. It says in the newspaper——

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member is either raising this as a matter of Privilege and asking me to give priority to it over the Orders of the Day, or there is no subject for his speech at all.

Mr. Lewis

If you recollect, Mr. Speaker, I said I would like your advice and guidance as to what method——

Mr. Speaker

I do not give advice on all sorts of subjects which do not concern me. When the newspaper was brought to me during Questions I thought that the hon. Member was to raise a point of Privilege. I would ask him to confine himself to the matter of Privilege.

Mr. Lewis

What I wanted to get from you, Mr. Speaker, was the method by which we can raise this matter. I understand that party meetings in Committee rooms are not privileged. For someone to say that our Committee rooms have been wired for microphones, that officials of the House have been investigating and searching, and that every hon. Member is under suspicion, is surely a breach of Privilege. When a newspaper insinuates that most Government supporters are guilty of betraying the secrets not only of——

Mr. Speaker

I cannot see any point of Privilege in this matter at all. If the hon. Member wishes to probe further into this story about microphones he ought to put down a Question to the responsible Minister. It is a matter for him and not for me. If the hon. Member still persists that this is a matter of Privilege he can put down a Motion to that effect. I am bound to say that the hon. Member has disclosed nothing at all which would enable me to regard it as a prima facie case where I ought to give it precedence at this time.

Mr. M. Stewart

Could you enlighten us on one point, Mr. Speaker? We have been informed by my hon. Friend the Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Lewis), who was quoting from the Press, that rooms in this building have been searched for microphones. Would it not be improper for such a search to be carried out without your authority and permission first having been required?

Mr. Speaker

The Minister generally responsible for work in this building is the Minister of Works. I know nothing about it. I do not think that it is a matter on which I could give priority at this time.

Mr. H. Morrison

If you have to consider this matter further, Mr. Speaker, will you take into account what is said in The Times today, that private meetings of hon. Members are a very convenient channel whereby Ministers can get additional publicity for what they want to say and for which otherwise they would not get any publicity at all?

Mr. Rawlinson

Would you take also note of the fact, Mr. Speaker, that very many hon. Members are thoroughly sick of this type of matter being raised as a point of order?