§ Q3. Mr. Blakerasked the Prime Minister if he will now make a statement on the result of his investigation of the allegations made against the Security Services by the right hon. Member for Huy-ton (Sir H. Wilson).
§ The Prime MinisterI issued a statement on 23rd August last.
§ Mr. BlakerWill the Prime Minister put that statement in the Official Report? Is he aware that I welcome his confidence in the Security Services but that there has been no denial from the right hon. Member for Huyton—I am sorry he is not in his place, although I drew his attention to this Question—that he made very serious allegations to journalists against the Security Services? Will the Prime Minister refer the matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions so that he may consider whether there is prima facie evidence of a breach of the Official Secrets Act?
§ The Prime MinisterI shall certainly include the statement in my reply in Hansard. It is quite short. My right hon. Friend associated himself with the statement that I made and, therefore, there is no reason to carry the matter any further. I think that the hon. Gentleman might consider the normal convention of this House that, when a statement on this kind of subject has been made and both sides of the House have expressed satisfaction with it, we ought to leave matters there.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsOn 28th July, in the House, the Prime Minister invited those who had information on these matters to submit the evidence to the Home Secretary. Did the right hon. Member for Huyton (Sir H. Wilson) do so, or did he 1645 explain to the Prime Minister his failure to do so?
§ The Prime MinisterI have nothing to add to the answer I have given.
§ Mr. OgdenDoes not my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister think that, rather than answering so many questions from Conservative Members who are trying to find all the bad news in the world, he might be more usefully employed in finding time to comment on the good news that came out of the headquarters of the National Union of Mineworkers this morning?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir. The National Union of Mineworkers' decision was one for itself. I do not believe that the Security Services were particularly concerned in it.
§ Mr. BlakerIn view of the unsatisfactory nature of those replies, I beg to give notice that I shall seek an early opportunity to raise the matter on the Adjournment.
Following is the statement:The Prime Minister has conducted detailed inquiries into the recent allegations about the Security Service and is satisfied that they do not constitute grounds for lack of confidence in the competence and impartiality of the Security Service or for instituting a special inquiry.In particular, the Prime Minister is satisfied that at no time has the Security Service or any other British intelligence or security agency, either of its own accord or at someone else's request, undertaken electronic surveillance in 10 Downing Street or in the Prime Minister's room in the House of Commons.