§ Q1. Sir T. Beamishasked the Prime Minister whether his decision not to allow the telephones of peers to be tapped on the authority of the Home Secretary applies to peers generally or only to peers who sit as Members of the Upper House.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Wilson)The statement which I made on 17th November extends to holders of peerages in receipt of Writs of Summons to the House of Lords.—[Vol. 736, c. 634.]
§ Sir T. BeamishHow does the Prime Minister square his high-handed and personal decision not to allow the telephones of peers and hon. Members to be tapped on the authority of a Secretary of State with the fact that he was Chairman of the Labour Party in 1961, when, it is said, at least a dozen Labour Members had their loyalty investigated by the Special Branch, including having their telephones tapped, at the request of the Labour Party?
§ The Prime MinisterThat may have been said at the party conference, but I know nothing about any such request. This is a Question which, if the hon. Gentleman was as interested then as he is 337 now, he should have put to his own Home Secretary at the time. This is not highhanded, but an act of government within the control of Government. I gave the House my reasons. I said that on balance—very much on balance—I thought the previous practice was undesirable.