HC Deb 30 January 1964 vol 688 cc529-30
Q3. Mr. Jay

asked the Prime Minister why permission was given to Mr. Randolph Churchill to see a Cabinet Paper.

The Prime Minister

As I informed the House on Tuesday, no such permission was given.

Mr. Jay

Does not the Prime Minister know that the Official Secrets Act forbids not merely the showing of papers to unauthorised persons, but the giving of information? Is he not aware that this particular paper was circulated to the Cabinet under the initials of the previous Prime Minister, and was formally considered and endorsed by the Cabinet? In these circumstances, will he confirm or deny the persistent report that this information was given to Mr. Randolph Churchill by the right hon. Member for Bromley (Mr. H. Macmillan)?

The Prime Minister

I have already answered that question, and have said that Mr. Randolph Churchill divulged nothing of the advice given to the Queen. I have also said that I did not intend to give to the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition, and this applies to his right hon. Friend, any information whether or not there was a Cabinet Paper.

Mr. Jay

As, a year ago, Miss Barbara Fell was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for showing a rather minor official document to an unauthorised person, are we to have one law for civil servants and another for Ministers?

The Prime Minister

I have already said that no paper of any kind was shown improperly to anybody.

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