§ Q5. Sir Knox Cunninghamasked the Prime Minister when, and for how long, Miss Wells was employed in 10 Downing Street.
§ The Prime MinisterThe lady in question was not a public employee and details of her employment are not therefore matters on which it would be normal for answers to be given in this House. Nevertheless, I am prepared to tell the hon. Gentleman exceptionally that the Answer to his Question is "November, 1965, and 14 days respectively".
§ Sir Knox CunninghamMay I ask the Prime Minister two questions? Who recommended Miss Wells; and, while she was working in No. 10, did she have access to the Garden Room?
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. and learned Gentleman is already aware from what I have said in the House that she had no access to any official information whatsoever. Because of the illness of my wife's secretary, this lady came to No. 10 Downing Street on loan from Transport House. As I have told the House before now, when her attitude was discovered to one or two questions on which she was typing stock letters about Vietnam, doubts were expressed, and she was returned to the place from which she came. She had no access at any time to confidential information. She had no access to the Garden Room. I have altered the system which my predecessors followed in relation to temporary employment in the Garden Room, where people who had not been vetted had access to and worked in the Garden Room temporarily.
§ Mr. McNamaraIs my right hon. Friend aware how much we on this side of the House deprecate the way in which hon. Gentlemen opposite are using this lady's name for the purpose of making sleazy and dishonourable political points? May I ask my right hon. Friend for how long the hon. and learned Member for Antrim, South (Sir Knox Cunningham) was employed at No. 10 Downing Street, and with what results?
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. and learned Member for Antrim, South is well aware of these things, because I think that he had a room at No. 10 Downing Street, and I am surprised that he did not use his highly respectable concern for security questions to clear up the situation in the Garden Room to which I have drawn attention.
§ Sir Knox CunninghamIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that, during the time that I was in No. 10 Downing Street, no crypto-Communists were employed there?
§ The Prime MinisterNor have there been any crypto-Communists employed at No. 10 Downing Street in my time. There have always been small political staffs there, but I have kept my political staff doing political work. When the hon. and learned Member for Antrim, South was there, there was an ex-employee of the Conservative Central Office employed as an official secretary who, on Mr. Macmillan's departure, went to another place as a Conservative Peer. There are none like that in my private office.
§ Sir Knox CunninghamOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. The Prime Minister has referred to a temporary civil servant—[Interruption.]—who was—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The hon. and learned Member for Antrim, South cannot raise a point of order unless he sits down when Mr. Speaker stands. Sir Knox Cunningham, on a point of order.
§ Sir Knox CunninghamThe Prime Minister has referred to someone who is now a Member of the other House and who was then employed as a temporary civil servant and did all his work as a civil servant without receiving emoluments.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. That is not a point of order. It is a point of information.