QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE (Hansard, 10 July 1975)

§ Mr. Torney
I should like to raise with you, Mr. Speaker, a matter affecting rights which I submit could constitute a contempt of the House.
In an exercise conducted by the magazine New Scientist with the full knowledge of my hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mr. Corbett), my room in the House was fitted with a bugging device and my conversations were recorded, including a telephone conversation that I had with the Ministry of Agriculture—not the Minister—in my capacity as a Member.
This was done without my knowledge or consent, and the bugging device was left lying in the room after I had left it. The room is used by other hon. Members. I assume that my hon. Friend is prepared to take responsibility for all that occurred, including the smuggling of these devices into the building, past the security control.
I do not want to exaggerate the importance of the incident, which has the appearance of a practical joke that went wrong, but it seems to me that it has a wider significance and should be brought to the attention of the House.

§ Mr. Corbett
Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. The event to which my hon. Friend has drawn attention was conducted as a serious exercise for a serious purpose, in which both my hon. Friend and I have jointly taken an interest. However, on reflection I realise that this exercise, for which I take full responsibility, was not wholly wise, and I should, therefore, like to apologise to my hon. Friend, to my hon. Friends who are associated with him and to the whole House.

§ Mr. Cohen
As one of the Members referred to in the comments by my hon. Friend the Member for Bradford, South (Mr. Torney), as one of the Members who share the office with him and as I was actually involved doing constituency work during the time this operation was, without my knowledge, taking place, I wish to express the same concern and to support my hon. Friend in the concern that he has expressed to the House.
It is right that this should be brought to the notice of the House. It is the kind of thing one would not expect from colleagues, but in the light of what has been said and the apology that has been expressed by my hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mr. Corbett), it may well be that, the matter having been raised, he realises the difficult situation in which he could have placed other hon. Members. Possibly in the light of that my hon. Friend the Member for Bradford, South may decide not to pursue the matter further, but that is a matter the House itself must decide.

§ Mr. Torney
In view of the expression of regret by my hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead, I am quite happy to leave the matter where it is.

§ Sir J. Langford-Holt
This goes slightly wider. I understand that this matter has been referred to the periodical mentioned and that a report is to appear on it in that periodical. Can we be assured that if what appears in the periodical seems, from that point on, to raise a question of privilege there is nothing to prevent any hon. Member raising the matter again?

§ Mr. Speaker
That is a hypothetical question. I must see what appears in the periodical and will then rule if need 759 be. But in all the circumstances, in view of what has been said and the apology that has been tendered, perhaps the House will leave it where it is.