HC Deb 06 December 1962 vol 668 cc1495-7
Q3. Mr. Shinwell

asked the Prime Minister whether his consent was given to Lord Avon to enable him to include in It's memoirs reference to Cabinet discussions and documents; and whether similar facilities will be made available to other authors with qualifications as historians, so that the public can be informed on events of historical importance.

The Prime Minister

With my agreement Lord Avon was given permission to include in his personal memoirs certain references to Cabinet discussions and documents.

Mr. Shinwell

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many of the statements referring to Cabinet documents and discussions are far from complete, and the result is that it leaves the full truth about these matters undisclosed? Would it not be wiser, instead of allowing special privileges to certain ex-Cabinet Ministers and not to all of them, to allow official historians to disclose all, apart from matters relating to security?

The Prime Minister

Much has already been written in other memoirs and other biographies about the events of these pre-war years. I did not consider that Lord Avon could fairly be denied reasonable freedom to present his own account of events in which he played so large a part.

Dame Irene Ward

In view of the fact that life has speeded up, would it not be a good idea for historians' access to papers to be allowed to be speeded up also?

The Prime Minister

This is a matter which has been under consideration by different Governments. There has been a certain relaxation in the war period and even the pre-war period, of which we all know. On the whole, I think the present rule a wise one. I ask hon. Members to consider carefully what would be the result of the opposite rule. The Ministers would begin to write minutes, not so much to deal with the occasions and problems they had to deal with, but with a view to the record.

Mr. Shinwell

If the right hon. Gentleman accepts responsibility for permitting Lord Avon to disclose certain matters relating to Cabinet documents and discussions, what justification is there in his mind, or in logic, for giving approval to one ex-Cabinet Minister and denying it to others?

The Prime Minister

I do not know of any case that has been refused, but if the right hon. Member will let me know of one I will try to deal with it.

Mr. Bellenger

Is the Prime Minister of the opinion that, even if the facilities are accorded to ex-Cabinet Ministers or to historians with qualifications, the public can be adequately informed of events of historical importance?

The Prime Minister

Both in the first war and in the second there has been a certain relaxation which we accept. It was done in the years immediately after the war and certain points of view in biographies and autobiographies have been written about those years, but I think that in general the rule now in force is a wise one.