HC Deb 02 April 1968 vol 762 cc168-70
37. Mr. Roebuck

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the circumstances in which foreign currency has been made available for the purchase by the Sunday Express of memoirs written by Kim Philby.

Mr. Harold Lever

I do not know from whom these memoirs were purchased. But payments to non-residents for publishing rights in the United Kingdom of newspaper articles are covered by a general exchange control permission.

Mr. Roebuck

Has my hon. Friend not studied the interesting article in the Sunday Telegraph, describing how these writings were hawked around Fleet Street and the difficulties which the proprietors of the Sunday Telegraph had in deciding where the money would go? Is my hon. Friend aware that it would give great satisfaction to hon. Members on both sides of the House if he would undertake to have another look to see whether the money has not reached Philby by some circuitous route?

Mr. Lever

As I have told the House, these payments are covered by the general exchange control permission in relation to payment to non-residents for publishing articles. I will gladly look at any abuse which my hon. Friend may think is occurring in the regulations, but I am not aware of any at present.

Mr. Lubbock

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the memoirs of Mrs. Wilson, the wife of the notorious train robber—[Interruption.]—are being published in a Sunday newspaper? Since Mrs. Wilson is resident in Canada, will he make sure that an infringement of the exchange regulations does not take place in this case?

Mr. Lever

The hon. Gentleman has not given me any grounds for supposing that any such infringement has taken place.

Mr. Shinwell

Is my hon. Friend aware that his original Answer does not appear to be satisfactory? Is it not quite improper that a man who has been declared to be a spy, or any of his associates, should be able to profit as a result of the publication of articles in a British newspaper? May we have an assurance that he will not be allowed to make a profit?

Mr. Lever

It is not for me, in operating exchange control, to apply a moral censorship of any kind. If there is anything improper in these publications, that is a matter for the newspapers concerned and, perhaps, for the Press Council to comment upon. It is certainly not for exchange control.

38. Mr. Roebuck

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to ensure that sums deposited in Great Britain to the credit of Kim Philby will be frozen; and that such sums are not made available to persons nominated by him.

Mr. Harold Lever

So far as I know, Philby has only one bank account in the United Kingdom. In view of the circumstances in which he left the country, arrangements have been made to ensure that no transactions may pass over this account without specific reference to the Bank of England.

Mr. Roebuck

Would my hon. Friend have a look elsewhere, to see that there is no other loophole through which money could escape?

Mr. Lever

We are always vigilant to ensure that the exchange control regulations are effectively enforced. If my hon. Friend has any ground for supposing that we have overlooked a loophole in respect of Mr. Philby, or any other person, I should be happy to consider his complaint.

Mr. Lipton

Why have so many successive British Governments always handled Philby with kid gloves? Is it not quite monstrous that a traitor should be allowed to make money out of his treachery?

Mr. Lever

The Question, so far as I can see, does not relate to the handling of Mr. Philby with kid gloves, but to the proper enforcement of the exchange controls. I can assure my hon. Friend that the exchange control regulations affecting Mr. Philby are fully enforced.