HC Deb 10 May 1972 vol 836 cc1314-5
40. Mr. Robert Hughes

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will make it a practice of his Administration in cases where material is made available to the Press in advance of a statement being made in the House, that such material is made available at the same time to hon. Members.

Mr. Kenneth Baker

I have been asked to reply.

This Administration will continue to follow the practice of successive previous Administrations in this matter.

Mr. Hughes

Does not the hon. Gentleman feel it would be better if there were informed comment and answer to such statements and that it would be better for the country if such material as was available to the Press was made available to the Vote Office? Is it not a curious doctrine in regard to the availability of material that members of the Press should be regarded as more trustworthly than Members of the House?

Mr. Baker

I remind the hon. Gentleman that we are following a precedent set by previous Governments. The Government's aim is to be as helpful as possible to hon. Members. Ministers normally endeavour to inform the House of such material before it is published in the Press.

Mr. Fry

Does not my hon. Friend appreciate that this is one of the more deplorable precedents set by a previous Administration, and does he not realise that many of us would have preferred the present Government to have made a fresh start in this direction?

Mr. Baker

I assure my hon. Friend that each Minister tries to be as helpful as possible in this regard and we have tried to make a small improvement in this matter in the last two years.