HC Deb 16 June 1966 vol 729 cc1669-71

Mr. Heath (by Private Notice) asked the Prime Minister whether he has instituted an investigation into the circumstances in which the Cabinet's decision to withdraw from the activities of E.L.D.O. was published in the Press on 3rd June.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Wilson)

The right hon. Gentleman must take responsibility for the alleged facts in his Question. He can, however, rest assured that in such cases of statements in the Press, however misleading their conclusions, which purport to involve leaks from governmental sources, appropriate inquiries are made. This is happening in this case.

Mr. Heath

We can well understand the Prime Minister's decision to inquire into this case, which led to the publication by the Foreign Office of a statement three days later and the reaction to which then led the Government to reverse their policy. Who will be responsible for carrying out such an inquiry? Will the Paymaster-General play any part in it? Will the activities of members of the Government be inquired into and will the right hon. Gentleman report to the House in due course?

The Prime Minister

The right hon. Gentleman, who has carried out the almost unprecedented act of putting down a Private Notice Question in this case 10 days after the event, is obviously taking this matter very seriously. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—as I am myself. I said "as I am myself", and it shows how the "Peterborough" column has inspired him.

In this question the right hon. Gentleman went into a long alleged factual account of what happened. I do not know whether I would be in order in answering all of it, but, to answer the concluding part of it, I am myself responsible, with the officials normally concerned with such matters, for this inquiry. This will be done, as has been the case under previous Governments, under my direction.

There have been in past years, for many years, a whole succession of leaks, accurate and inaccurate, about aviation matters. When I was in opposition I went so far as to think—I now realise a little unfairly—that this must have been attributable to the then Minister of Aviation. I now realise that there is a more continuing problem here, and it is right that this should be said. This is being inquired into in this particular case, but I could not agree that the right hon. Gentleman should conclude everything he has concluded as a result of what happened on the Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Mr. Heath

May I press the Prime Minister a little further? Will the inquiry also go into the activities of members of the Government, and will the right hon. Gentleman make a report to the House when the inquiry is finished?

The Prime Minister

As soon as I have anything to report, quite unprecedentedly, which the right hon. Gentleman opposite never did, I will certainly report anything to the House which can be said if any conclusions emerge from this. Again, I do not know what was the practice of previous Governments. I have my suspicions. All such inquiries must cover everyone who had access to any information which might have been emitted on this occasion.

Mr. R. Carr

Will the right hon. Gentleman include in his inquiries a report which appeared, I think as long ago as last Friday, foreshadowing the statement about the Ministry of Aviation which he has just made?

The Prime Minister

I said that there is a rather continuing problem in this Ministry which has gone on for a long time under successive Governments. I said that I might have been unfair in ascribing it to the incontinence of a particular Minister who is no longer a Member of this House. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] I said that I might have been unfair. Will not hon. Gentlemen opposite allow me to say that?

As I said, it is a continuing problem which, I think, plagued previous Governments. It plagues us and we are trying, as they did, to get to the bottom of it.

Mr. Onslow

Would the Prime Minister confirm that these inquiries will also include the interviewing of Mr. Chapman Pincher?

The Prime Minister

I think that it is not usual in these cases to interview journalists. But, certainly, he is one of a very considerable number of journalists who have printed a series of stories, a few of them reasonably accurate but most of his, recently, totally inaccurate, as the whole House knows.