Non-attributable Press Briefings

HC Deb 04 March 1970 vol 797 c391

14. Mr. Onslow

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will abandon his practice of giving non-attributable briefing to the Press.

Mr. Healey

No, Sir.

Mr. Onslow

Might it not improve the right hon. Gentleman's reputation for honesty—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh! "]—if, after inviting a number of journalists to meet him at his Department and giving them information about such matters as the forecast costs of M.R.C.A., he did not come to this House and not only refuse hon. Members the same information but deny that he had given it to the Press?

Mr. Healey

The habit of non-attributable conferences is followed by right hon. and hon. Members on both sides of the House. Fortunately, I was forewarned of the line of criticism to be followed by right hon. and hon. Gentlemen opposite in the forthcoming two-day debate in a series of non-attributable briefings to Mr. David Wood of The Times.

Mr. Onslow

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I beg to give notice that I shall seek to raise the matter during the forthcoming defence debate.