HC Deb 17 November 1964 vol 702 cc198-9
Q9. Dame Irene Ward

asked the Prime Minister whether the general regulations of the Civil Service Commissioners on nationality requirements were satisfied in the case of the appointments of Mr. T. Balogh, Professor P. Blacken, Mr. H. F. R. Catherwood, Dr. N. Kaldor and Mr. R. Neild; or whether their appointments as temporary civil servants have been made at the discretion of the Departments to which they are attached.

The Prime Minister

Although these are temporary appointments, the requirements of the nationality rule are met.

Dame Irene Ward

In view of the fact that there is a new regulation, within these regulations covering entrants to the Foreign Office, coming into operation on 1st January, 1965, which was circulated with an Answer in the OFFICIAL REPORT, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he can now give me an assurance that if any new regulations are brought into operation the House will be informed? I had no assurance in answer to the speech which I made in the House last week.

The Prime Minister

I made it clear that the existing regulations are being most stringently followed in every case and the most thorough inquiries are made. As and when new regulations are introduced, they will be followed in all cases.

Dame Irene Ward

In view of the new regulation, which was not reported to the House until I put down a Parliamentary Question, may I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman will kindly give me an assurance about any new regulations—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—I am not making any allegation[HON. MEMBERS: "Yes."]—I am merely asking about the procedure. Will the Prime Minister give me an assurance that when new regulations, such as the one circulated in HANSARD, are brought into operation, the House of Commons will be informed without a private backbencher having to ask a Question?

The Prime Minister

Yes, Sir. Whenever it is appropriate, this will be done, but I think that the hon. Lady will realise that the security services have to operate a very large number of regulations and practices which have never been announced to the House by any previous Government.

Mr. Will Griffiths

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that during the period of office of successive Tory Governments which we had before he formed his Administration, security procedure has been applied by right hon. and hon. Members opposite in such a way that very small and insignificant people have been ruined and dismissed from the public service and not a word in their defence was said by hon. Members opposite? Yet would not my right hon. Friend agree that at the same time there were most serious breaches of security at a very high level?

The Prime Minister

These are very difficult subjects, as the whole House recognises, and in the last Parliament we probably spent more time debating security than any of us wanted to. But I think that it is fair to say that there were one or two cases under the recent Government—one a fairly recent one—where there appeared to be a very strict application of a rule in respect of a young woman employee which, when brought to the attention of the Minister concerned, was dealt with in a humane way by the exercise of that Minister's discretion. That is what we have to do in respect of all these appointments.