§ Q9. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Prime Minister what representations he has received recently concerning security within Government Departments.
§ The Prime MinisterI have received communications from hon. Members and from members of the public about the matters referred to in my statement to the House on 24th May. These matters have now been referred to the Security Commission.
§ Mr. HamiltonIs any consideration being given to the form in which Ministers might be vetted before appointment? Will the Prime Minister give an undertaking that when the Franks Committee report is debated—as I hope it will be next week or some time soon—the Government will not make their proposals immediately on concluding the debate but will give serious consideration to the views of the House on all the matters 866 pertaining to Franks, and to the attitude of the Press and outside bodies concerned to the Franks Report?
§ The Prime MinisterOn the first part of the question, I think that all recent Governments have given consideration to the point that the hon. Gentleman has mentioned. I should have thought that in present circumstances we had better await the report of the Security Commission and see whether it has any recommendations to make in this regard.
Concerning the second part of the hon. Gentleman's question, the purpose of the House debating the Franks Report is to enable the Government to hear the views of the House before reaching final conclusions. My right hon. Friend will be able to give the House some preliminary views about certain aspects of the report and, at the same time, to explain some of the problems that the Government now see as the result of studying the report. The House will be able to express its views upon it.
§ Mr. LiptonNow that nearly a year has elapsed since the Security Commission was asked to investigate the cases of Bingham and Hinchcliffe, when will the publishable part of its report be made public?
§ The Prime MinisterIt will be published very shortly indeed. All the normal procedures have been carried through, both in consultations with the security services, after the report was written, and with the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition. I know the time that this has taken, but the hon. Gentleman will see from the report that certain judicial activities had to be carried on in the course of this, and although the Committee can start its proceedings under the rules that were changed by the right hon. Gentleman before a court case is finished, nevertheless, concerning certain witnesses and principals, it has to await the conclusion of those proceedings before it can finally complete them. That is what happened in this case.