§ Q1. Mr. Brothertonasked the Prime Minister, who is responsible for communication between the Prime Minister's Office and the Press.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Wilson)The Press Office at 10 Downing Street, Sir.
§ Mr. BrothertonWill the right hon. Gentleman tell the House by what criteria it is decided with which national newspaper his Press Office will communicate? Does he agree that for his Press Office to fail to communicate with any national newspaper makes a mockery of his claim to be in favour of more open government? Regardless of any consideration, will the Prime Minister instruct his Press Office to communicate again with The Times forthwith?
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. Gentleman is very wide of the mark. Press notices, on-the-record statements and speeches are officially issued from the No. 10 Downing Street Press Office, and they are available to all newspapers, including The Times. I appreciate the point that the hon. Gentleman is trying to make. I support my staff on this matter. I cannot go into it any further, as judicial proceedings are involved.
§ Mr. WhiteheadWould whoever is responsible for communication with the Press in my right hon. Friend's office communicate to the Press on behalf of many hon. Members on both sides of the House the widespread distaste that is felt for the sustained campaign of innuendo in the national Press for the past fortnight arising from accusations made in court under qualified privilege? Will my right hon. Friend say that he agrees with those hon. Members who believe that the campaign is dangerously close to a total misuse of the so-called public right to know?
§ The Prime MinisterI entirely agree with my hon. Friend. What is particularly nauseating is the sanctimonious spirit in which this has been done. We have the spectacle of supposedly bankrupt newspapers holding up their hands for public money when they are prepared to waste money in what is classical innuendo against a Member of Parliament and, in my view, against democracy as a whole.