§ Q2. Commander Keransasked the Prime Minister whether he will institute an inquiry into the system of D notice issues to the Press.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Government have been looking into the way the D notice system works. As a result we have decided, with the agreement of the Press representatives on the Services Press and Broadcasting Committee, to introduce certain modifications in the procedure for consulting them in future about the issue of D notices on sensitive subjects. I am sure this will meet the point which my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind.
§ Commander KeransI thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. Does he not agree that the country wants a more secure and simpler organisation.
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir. I think that the discussions we have had will make the system work better. Broadly speaking, it works well, but there are sudden and special cases and we hope to get over some of the difficulties.
§ Mr. LiptonCan the Prime Minister explain how all kinds of people who should not know anything about D notices seem to know about them as soon as they are issued so that the effect of this is to draw attention to security matters which otherwise would not be noticed at all?
§ The Prime MinisterI think that, taken broadly over a wide field, the system has worked efficiently. However, there are special cases which present special difficulties.