SERVICES PRESS AND BROADCASTING COMMITTEE (D NOTICE) (Hansard, 18 July 1963)

§ Q3. Mr. W. Hamilton
asked the Prime Minister why permission was given to the Services Press and Broadcasting Committee to publicise the name of the Russian spy who defected 18 months ago.

§ The Prime Minister
On Thursday, 11th July, the Services Press and Broadcasting Committee, with the full agreement of the Press representatives on the Committee, requested newspaper editors not to publish information about this defector. The man's name was included in the message to editors, which was marked "Private and Confidential", because it was thought right to take them into the Government's confidence and because it was assumed that they would refrain from publishing it or anything else about him.
The request was made partly on grounds of national security and partly in consideration of the individual concerned. These considerations still apply. It would, therefore, be wrong for me to go further into the details of the case, as I am sure the House will understand.

§ Mr. Hamilton
In view of the fact that the name has got out, have investigations been made into how it got out? Further, can the right hon. Gentleman tell the House why the D notice was issued last Thursday at all, when this defection apparently took place 18 months ago? Is it an attempt to enhance the declining prestige of the Government in security matters?

§ The Prime Minister
No, Sir; the object of the notice was that it should not be known, not that it should be known—the exact opposite of what the hon. Gentleman suggests. Unfortunately, one newspaper, having got this information from a foreign source and believing that it might shortly be published in the foreign Press, did not follow the request in the notice.

§ Mr. Wigg
Is it not a fact that, before the D notice was issued, Government sources had supplied information about the defection of this man, which occurred some 18 months ago, and it was only after the protest of the newspaper offices that the D notice was issued?

§ The Prime Minister
No, Sir; I do not think that those are the facts. The facts are as I have stated them. If the hon. Gentleman has any further information to give me, I shall be very grateful.