§ 03. Mr. Brooksasked the Prime Minister whether he will consult graphologists before making appointments.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. If handwriting came to be regarded as a major criterion in making such appointments, I fear that a Prime Minister's field of choice might be unduly restricted.
§ Mr. BrooksIs my right hon. Friend aware that many of us will be relieved to hear that the Prime Minister has set his face against a system whereby a person's job can be at risk because of his script? Would he not agree that a recent disturbing case has indicated that our privacy and security seem to be at risk from quackery, and is it not time to investigate the whole of the snooping apparatus which can cost people their jobs?
§ The Prime MinisterI have looked into the case which my hon. Friend has in mind but I have to inform him that the National Allotments and Garden Society is not the responsibility of Her Majesty's Government, nor does it come within the ambit of the original Question. To judge from the letters I get from all parts of the House on many matters, if this kind of test were applied, even to Members of Parliament, this would be a very much smaller House of Commons.
§ Mr. St. John-StevasIs not the point that the handwriting is on the wall so far as this Government are concerned?