§ 47. Mr. A. Lewisasked the Attorney-General, by what criteria the Lord Chancellor selected the team of advisory solicitors assisting him in his inquiry into the Profumo affair; and if he will publish their names.
§ The Attorney-General (Sir John Hobson)There was no such team.
§ Mr. LewisIs the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that it was reported in the Press that a very prominent and active Conservative Party worker who was a councillor and was raised to the peerage for his political services to the Conservative Party—Lord Chelmer—was one of the advisers, and that before the report was delivered to my right hon. Friend the Leader of the Opposition, Lord Chelmer, as one of the joint chairmen of the Conservative Party, was leading a deputation to the Prime Minister? In view of the fact that this was an inspired report from Lord Chelmer, will he publish the names or give a denial that Lord Chelmer was one of the solicitors called in?
§ The Attorney-GeneralAs I said, no solicitor was called in to act on behalf of the Lord Chancellor. The Lord Chancellor conducted the inquiry with the assistance only of his permanent staff. I will certainly draw the attention of my noble Friend to what has just been said.