MEMBERS (CABLES AND RADIO TELEGRAMS)

HC Deb 14 March 1967 vol 743 cc233-4

The following Question stood upon the Order Paper:

Q6. Mr. HUGH FRASER

To ask the Prime Minister whether cables and radio telegrams sent by Members of Parliament are privileged from perlustration by the security services.

Mr. Fraser

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. As Question No. Q6 is of great interest to hon. Members, would the Prime Minister be able to answer it?

Mr. Speaker

I have had no request, and I have up to the present no request from the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister

Since this Question does affect hon. Members, Mr. Speaker, I have certainly no objection to asking for permission to reply. I assumed that it would be reached, but we spent quite a long time on Aden. If it is the will of the House, I will answer it.

Hon. Members

Yes.

The Prime Minister

The principles I outlined in replying to Questions on 17th November apply in the area to which the hon. Member refers.—[Vol. 736, c. 634.]

Mr. Fraser

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for the pellucid unclarity of his reply. Is he aware that if he consults the statement he made on 17th November he will find that there is no reference in it either to cable or wireless, but only to telephone tapping? He must realise that there are many Members in this House, as well as people outside it, who regard it—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—as a gift they are not prepared to receive: an extension of Parliamentary privilege which is entirely uncalled for.

The Prime Minister

I have dealt with whether there is an extension of Parliamentary privilege and have given my reasons. I hope that my answer is as pellucidly clear as the right hon. Gentleman hoped. It does not quite compete with his "perlustration", but since he has asked today I have said that the same principles apply in this area of perlustration to which his Question refers.

Dr. M. S. Miller

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Is it in order for hon. Members to use words and expressions which the Oxford English Dictionary classifies as obsolete? [Laughter.]

Mr. Speaker

Order. I have to reply with discretion, because everything Mr. Speaker says may be used in evidence against him. But I think that it is in order. It has been done.

Mr. Fraser

Perlustration was in common use in the secret police of the Czarist régime.

Mr. Speaker

Order. I had already fortified myself for this word. It appears in the Shorter Oxford Dictionary.