HC Deb 23 June 1965 vol 714 c1738
15. Sir S. McAdden

asked the Minister of Aviation what were the circumstances in which Mr. Tony Murphy secured employment in his Department with the United Kingdom Central Codification Authority; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Roy Jenkins

Mr. Murphy has not been employed with the Authority in question, nor elsewhere in my Department. He worked for two days for a private firm which has offices in the same building as the Authority. The Authority is concerned with stores classification and its work is not sensitive from a security point of view.

Sir S. McAdden

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for that reply, but does he not agree that it was the most extraordinary story which this member of the Committee of 100 was permitted to publish, making most grave allegations of a lack of security in his Department? Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that this statement of a member of the Committee of 100 should be treated as having the same lack of relevance as most of the other statements which it makes?

Mr. Jenkins

I agree that it is a most extraordinary story, but I should have thought that the best possible way to treat it as irrelevant was not to put down a Question.

Mr. Speaker

Mr. Shepherd.

Sir S. McAdden

Is not the Minister aware that the only way to establish the facts is to ask a Question?

Mr. Speaker

Order. Inspired by these comments, I have gone so far as to call the next Question.