§ Q7. Mr. Haleasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the increase of group denigration, slander by innuendo, and guilt by association in the United Kingdom, he will introduce legislation to prohibit these practices.
§ The Prime MinisterI do not accept my hon. Friend's premise and the Answer to his Question is, therefore, "No, Sir".
§ Mr. HaleDoes my right hon. Friend recall that he and I were for many years members of a proscribed organisation, constantly assailed by group innuendo and ofttimes ambushed at short range? Would he not now declare—because I feel that he believes this—that the worst of all menaces to freedom of speech is semi-official, semi-secret inquisition?
§ The Prime MinisterI have been associated with my hon. Friend in many high endeavours, none of them having been proscribed. I do not think that the War on Want Organisation has ever been proscribed by anyone. Although we were sometimes criticised, most people have now come round to the point of view that we were then expressing. If my hon. Friend is referring to anything that I said in the House last Monday, if I catch your eye, Mr. Speaker, I hope to have a chance of going into this question in more detail, and in a manner which I think will reassure my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. Ronald BellIn the light of the Question and Answer which we have just heard, will the Prime Minister bear in mind, for other occasions, the great danger of legislation proscribing particular forms of political expression?
§ The Prime MinisterI may have a word to say about that if I catch your eye, Mr. Speaker.