§ 52. Mr. Liptonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now make a statement on the case of Dr. A. E. Laurence.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Elystan Morgan)I am at present unable to add anything to the reply my right hon. Friend gave on 8th May to a Question by my hon. Friend.—[Vol. 783, c. 118.]
§ Mr. LiptonDoes my hon. Friend recall that on 12th May the Home Secretary gave an undertaking that he would make an early statement on the Floor of the House. When is that undertaking to be honoured? Will it be honoured before the House rises for the Whitsun Recess? Is my hon. Friend aware that the Home Secretary will be accused of stalling and evasion if he does not deal with this matter before the House rises for Whitsun?
§ Mr. MorganIt is necessary for inquiries to be concluded, and I have nothing to add to the statement of my right hon. Friend, that this statement would be made quite soon.
§ Sir F. BennettWhen can we expect the Home Secretary to make a statement on the case of the Home Secretary?
§ Mr. BrooksWill my hon. Friend confirm something which perhaps needs no statement in the House as confirmation, and that is that for many days before Dr. Laurence returned from his holidays, there were police and newspapermen in the neighbourhood of his house? Is this really a very wise way of maintaining security in such matters?
§ Mr. MorganThe Home Secretary cannot be held responsible for the presence or absence of newspapermen. I am sure that my hon. Friend would not wish me to say anything further that would anticipate the statement to be made by my right hon. Friend.