§ Q1. Mr. W. Yatesasked the Prime Minister by what authority the Secretary to the Cabinet at the time cautioned a Minister of the Crown and Privy Councillor on a matter of security on 9th August, 1961.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Macmillan)Lord Norman brook, who was a Member of the Privy Council, Secretary of the Cabinet and official head of the Home Civil Service, informed Mr. Profumo of certain facts which had come to the knowledge of the Security Service and alerted him to the possible security implications of those facts. Lord Normanbrook was acting in the course of his duty and required no special authority.
§ Mr. YatesIn view of that, may we assume that Lord Normanbrook did not minute or mention a matter concerning a member of the Defence Committee and a Minister of the Crown to the Prime Minister himself? Since when has it become the practice for the Prime Minister or any other Minister to cast the blame or cast doubt on the duties or the effectiveness or the work of a civil servant in this country?
§ The Prime MinisterIn answer to the first part of the supplementary question, Lord Normanbrook made a minute which is in his files. He made quite clear what he did and that he did not report it to me. I am not in the least attempting to put blame on to him, but I thought it right to tell the House the facts.
§ Mr. HaleWould the Prime Minister bear in mind that some of us recall the former Secretary of State for his careful, sympathetic and compassionate attention to individual cases and that the invocation—
That mercy I to others show,That mercy show to me.might now be usefully employed both in relation to retired Secretaries of State and to corporals in the Royal Corps of Signals?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, but I still thought it right to tell the House the facts. I appreciate what the hon. Gentleman says.
§ Q3. Mr. Spriggsasked the Prime Minister whether the report on John Profumo made to his private secretary by a newspaper manager was in written form; and if he will place a copy in the Library.
§ The Prime MinisterThe answer to the first part of the Question is, No, Sir. The second part does not, therefore, arise.
§ Mr. SpriggsMay I ask for your guidance, Mr. Speaker? In the House of Commons Manual of Procedure, paragraph 168 lays down that where a Minister of the Crown refers to a document, or, I take it, a report, he should lay that document on the Table of the House. In this case the Prime Minister refuses to lay this letter on the Table.
§ Mr. SpeakerIn any event, it is much too late to raise that in relation to the Prime Minister's speech; but I thought the right hon. Gentleman said that there was no such document.