HC Deb 28 March 1968 vol 761 cc1693-4
1. Mr. Brooks

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to require newspapers to publish the details of payments made in obtaining the exclusive confessions or autobiographies of convicted criminals or of their accomplices or associates.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. James Callaghan)

In the light of the Press Council's declared policy on this matter, I do not think there is a sufficient case for legislation.

Mr. Brooks

Does my right hon. Friend not think it disgraceful that the wages of sin should get an overtime bonus from our free Press? Would he not consider taking steps to remove the sort of unsavoury competition which underlies the present squabble going on between the People and the News of the World about Mrs. Wilson's memoirs?

Mr. Callaghan

Without going into any opinions about the particular struggle, perhaps I might repeat that the Press Council has made a declaration which stated, among other things, that no payment should be made for feature articles to persons engaged in crime or other notorious misbehaviour where the public interest does not warrant it, and that it deplores publication of personal articles of an unsavoury nature by persons who have been concerned in criminal acts or vicious conduct. That seems to be a perfectly good statement of principle which should be lived up to.

Mr. Gresham Cooke

Can the Home Secretary say whether the Press Council has put its mind to the publication of articles and payments to self-confessed traitors whose articles have been published in the Sunday Press, because the practice is very unsavoury to many people?

Mr. Callaghan

I do not know what matters are currently before the Press Council but, if any complaints have been submitted to it, I am sure that it will make a report on them in due course.

Mr. Arthur Davidson

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that it is one of the unfortunate facts of life that there is a bigger readership for the memoirs of the wives of train robbers than, say, for the reminiscences of an ex-Foreign Secretary—

Mr. Speaker

Order. Briefly. No speech.

Mr. Davidson

Would my right hon. Friend none the less not agree that it is about time that the Press Council drew up a much tighter code of ethics for newspapers to observe?

Mr. Callaghan

I was not aware that the right hon. and learned Member for Wirral (Mr. Selwyn Lloyd) had been approached for his memoirs, but, assuming that he is, I am sure that he will get a good market price for them.