HC Deb 26 July 1977 vol 936 cc573-5

4.20 a.m.

Mr. Kenneth Baker (St. Marylebone)

I beg to present a petition—and I have had to wait a very long time to do so—from Ferruccio John Calderan and Paul Louis Martin Butner, acting on behalf of Michael Hugh Litchfield and Susan Joy Kentish.

In view of the fact that I shall seek to move a motion arising from this petition,

I ask for it to be read.

casting authorities and other organisation for which provision has been made in the Resolution of the House this day relating to Sound Broadcasting be exercised by the Joint Committee on Sound Broadcasting.—[Mr. Tinn.]

The House divided: Ayes 29, Noes 4.

The Clerk of the House read the petition, which was as follows:

To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled.

The Humble Petition of Ferruccio John Calderan and Paul Louis Martin Butner, showeth that:—

  1. (1) The first-named Petitioner is the solicitor representing Times Newspapers Ltd. and the second-named Petitioner is the solicitor representing Michael Hugh Litchfield and Susan Joy Kentish.
  2. (2) Two actions have been brought in the High Court of Justice, Queen's Bench Division, against Times Newspapers Ltd, one by Michael Hugh Litchfield and the other by Susan Joy Kentish, the numbers of the two actions are respectively 1975 L.No. 2577 and 1975 K.No. 1034.
  3. (3) In each action the Plaintiff claims damages for libel on the basis of articles published in the Sunday Times newspaper.
  4. (4) In each action issues arise as to the investigations made by Mr. Litchfield and Mrs. Kentish into the practice of obtaining abortions in the United Kingdom, as to their methods of obtaining and recording information in the course of those investigations, as to their use of such information, and as to the publication of a book entitled "Babies for Burning" and the newspaper articles all of which were written by them following those investigations.
  5. (5) On Monday 7th July 1975, Mr. Litchfield and Mrs. Kentish gave evidence to the Select Committee on the Abortion (Amendment) Bill. The Minutes of their evidence were ordered to be printed by the House of Commons on 7th July 1975 (No. 253-xi).
  6. (6) The evidence given by Mr. Litchfield and Mrs. Kentish to the said Select Committee 575 as printed in the said minutes of evidence relates directly to the issues referred to in paragraph 4 hereof, and reference is desired to be made by your Petitioners in the two actions referred to in paragraph 2 hereof, to the evidence printed in the said minutes which was given by Mr. Litchfield and Mrs. Kentish as well as to the tape recordings, transcripts and documents which were laid before the Committee.

Wherefore your Petitioners pray that reference may be made in the two actions presently proceeding in the High Court of Justice, Queen's Bench Division referred to herein to the said minutes of evidence, tape recordings, transcripts and documents, and that leave be given to the proper Officers of the House formally to prove the same according to their competence.

And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, etc.

Ordered, That leave be given to the proper officers of this House to attend the trial of the said action and to produce the said Report, and that leave be given for reference to be made to the said Report.—[Mr. Kenneth Baker.]

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