HC Deb 09 November 1961 vol 648 c1160
Q2. Dame Irene Ward

asked the Prime Minister when the Radcliffe Committee report on the security services will be received.

The Prime Minister

I understand that the Radcliffe Committee expects to submit its report very soon.

Dame Irene Ward

Will the Committee's report be made available to the witnesses, having regard to the fact that the witnesses were selected by the Committee and, in the main, most of them knew more about the security services than the Committee itself? Since we are not, as I understand it, to have the report published, would it not be a good thing, and give confidence to the public, if the witnesses who gave evidence had a chance to see how the Committee reacted to the evidence they gave?

The Prime Minister

I shall consider that, but I should not have thought that it was the usual practice. The first thing is for me to await reception of the report and then any question about whether it can be published in part or in whole would be open for decision then. I shall, of course, follow what I think has been the practice in these matters, as I did earlier, and consult the Leader of the Opposition as soon as the report is available.