HC Deb 28 July 1982 vol 28 cc1053-5
14. Mr. McElhone

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is now in a position to announce the date of the publication of the report by Lord Hunter on the Meehan case.

Mr. Younger

Lord Hunter's report into the whole circumstances of the murder of Mrs. Rachel Ross at Ayr in July 1969 will be published on Thursday 5 August.

Mr. McElhone

Will the Secretary of State take it from me that that answer is totally unacceptable and a gross insult to Patrick Meehan, myself and many hon. Members who have taken a keen interest in this case? Does he accept that he has had this report on his desk since last August? It is a gross insult to the House to publish the report in a dummy form. Does the right hon. Gentleman also accept that he demeaned himself yesterday by involving himself in a shabby manoeuvre with the former Scottish Tory Whip in tabling a late priority written question in an effort to dodge proper qestioning on the matter? Finally, does he accept that what he has done has brought the Scottish Office into disrepute and, indeed, the good name of justice in Scotland as a whole?

Mr. Younger

I do not understand what the hon. Gentleman is saying about a question. I hope that, on reflection, he will think that his questions were inappropriate. This is a long report about important matters, which occurred a long time ago. It is vital to get this report presented in some form to Parliament before the recess so that it can be studied—that will take a very long time—by the many people who are affected by it. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will feel that there is no discourtesy to anyone in taking great care to do that.

Mr. Fairbairn

Does my right hon. Friend appreciate that, whatever explanations are given, the effect of this report being published when Parliament is in recess—missing a year's delay by only three days—will be that Members may not comment on it under privilege, at least until we reassemble, which will be too late? Secondly, will he advise us on the mechanics of getting this vast report, so that those who are entitled to immediate comment, and the media, may have copies in their hands at the earliest possible moment, and not be delayed by the time that it takes to get from the Vote Office to our constituencies next week?

Mr. Younger

My hon. and learned Friend knows that he can apply to the Vote Office for a copy and that it will be sent to him as quickly as possible. Alternatively, he can pick it up in person—or, of course, if he has a secretary, no doubt he or she can pick it up.

My hon. and learned Friend is in as good a position as anyone to know that any comment on the report—which owes much to the hard and effective work of Lord Hunter over a long period—will need a great deal of detailed study, because it is a huge document. Therefore, it is appropriate that everyone concerned should have time to study it before making off-the-cuff comments.

Mr. Millan

Is the Secretary of State aware that it is wholly unsatisfactory for this report to be published a week after Parliament rises for the Summer Recess? It has been in his hands since August 1981. When was it sent to the printers? Will he comment on the statement by the managing director of the printers this morning that he delivered the report to the Scottish Office on a timetable that was agreed four or five weeks ago? If that is correct, it sheds a rather different light on some of the things that have come out of the Scottish Office in recent days.

On the merits of the matter, it is not just a question of the convenience of Members of Parliament. What will the Secretary of State do with this report? Will there be deletions, as has been suggested in the press? We want to question the Secretary of State on these matters. It is particularly important that Members of Parliament should be able, if appropriate, to question the Secretary of State in the House under the cloak of parliamentary privilege, in view of the many sensitive matters that are covered in the report.

Finally, will the Secretary of State retrieve the position, at least a little, by agreeing now to make a definitive statement on the report in the first week that the House comes back from the recess?

Mr. Younger

I note what the right hon. Gentleman says. Perhaps I should say, first, that my Department, the printers and I have done all that we possibly can to produce the report as quickly as possible. The printers have done a good job. They have had to take on extra staff and to work overtime. However, it has not been possible for them to produce it any earlier. They received the report in its initial form at the end of last year. They had complete proofs, and corrected galley proofs were returned on 24 May. The final detail was in their hands by 28 June, and since then they have been working very hard. When hon. Members see the report and appreciate its size and weight, they will understand why it has taken so long.

The right hon. Gentleman would be well advised to look at the report before he jumps too far into the matter. It will take a long time to read. As many individuals are mentioned, it is important that any comments made on it should be made with the greatest of care, because reputations will be involved. The right hon. Gentleman's criticisms are wholly inappropriate.

Mr. Millan

Is it not extraordinary that the galley proofs were available at the end of May but that we still do not have the report at the end of July? As the report is important and raises sensitive issues, it is all the more important that there should be an early opportunity to comment upon and ask questions about it inside rather than outside the House. The real mischief in mishandling the printing of the report is that hon. Members will not have the opportunity to do that until they return in October.

Mr. Younger

I can only disagree with the right hon. Gentleman. He says that it is extraordinary, but he will find that it is not extraordinary when he sees the size and weight of the report and exactly what is involved. If he wishes, he can consult the printers.

No one should make instant comment on the report. I very much hope that no one will.

Mr. Gordon Wilson

Does the Secretary of State realise that he has given the House a choice between Government incompetence in taking so long to produce the report and scabby and cynical manipulation of the House of Commons and parliamentary procedure to avoid hon. Members having the opportunity to question the contents of the report in the public interest?

Mr. Younger

I wholly disagree with the hon. Gentleman. I am one of the few Members who have no axe to grind, having had no responsibility at any time for any part of these events. Therefore, the hon. Gentleman should clear me of that.

If I must take some blame for taking time to ensure that no individual will be needlessly harmed or traduced by what is said in the report and for the care that I have taken over it, I am happy to do so in order to protect reputations and feelings.

Mr. Speaker

I shall allow an extra two minutes at 3.30 pm.

Mr. Buchan

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. May I give notice that I should like to raise a point of order at the end of Question Time in relation to that question?

Mr. McElhone

May I also give similar notice?

Mr. Speaker

Certainly.