HC Deb 30 July 1980 vol 989 cc1534-5
Mr. Greville Janner

I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 9, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely, the effect of today's decision of the House of Lords, in the case of the British Steel Corporation v. Granada Television, upon the freedom of the press. The decision will give any court the power to order any journalist to reveal his source of information about any matter. If the journalist refuses, he is, by definition, in contempt of court and liable to be imprisoned. The decision extends to the protection of private interests—a power previously and rarely exercised for the protection of the public in matters of the security of the State, such as that of the Daily Mail journalist, Mulholland.

As no journalist will reveal his source, the immediate and damocletian nature of the danger suspended over the heads of all journalists is obvious. The matter is specific, urgent and important. I hope that there will be a space later tonight, when another debate may be postponed for a week, when this matter can be discussed.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. and learned Member for Leicester, West (Mr. Janner) gave me notice this morning, before 12 o'clock that he would seek leave to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that he believes should have urgent consideration, namely, the effect of today's decision of the House of Lords, in the case of the British Steel Corporation v. Granada Television, upon the freedom of the press. I listened with care to what the hon. and learned Gentleman said. As the House knows, I am directed to take into account the several factors set out in the order, but to give no reasons for my decision. I have to rule that the hon. and learned Gentleman's submission does not fall within the provisions of the Standing Order. Therefore, I cannot submit his application to the House.