HC Deb 10 December 1974 vol 883 cc235-6
Q4. Mr. Tebbit

asked the Prime Minister if he will publish the evidence which he intends to give to the Royal Commission on the Press.

Mr. Edward Short

I have been asked to reply.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave on 28th November to the hon. Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr. Fowler).—[Vol. 882, c. 223.]

Mr. Tebbit

Since, however, the Lord President is answering Questions today, and since of late he has been much more understanding and flexible towards the needs of the House, will he convey that new-found flexibility to the Prime Minister and suggest to him that he should end the tailk of a smear campaign in the Press against the Prime Minister by persuading him to publish any evidence which he possesses—in other words, that he should stop his smear campaign against the Press?

Mr. Short

The Prime Minister has said on a number of occasions that he believes that the appropriate way to deal with this matter is to submit his evidence to the Royal Commission. I shall be submitting mine as well.