§ Q1. Mr. Dalyellasked the Prime Minister if she will place in the Library a copy of all correspondence conducted on her behalf between Sir Robert Armstrong and Mr. Chapman Pincher.
§ The Prime Minister (Mrs. Margaret Thatcher)It remains inappropriate to comment on matters in issue in the Peter Wright case in Australia. I also intend to follow the precedent set by previous Governments of not commenting on security matters.
§ Mr. DalyellBy what method did a Government agency first obtain the page proofs of "Their Trade is Treachery"? This is not exactly related to the current case.
§ The Prime MinisterThe answer to the hon. Gentleman's question is covered by my first reply.
§ Mr. AdleyWill my right hon. Friend take this opportunity to thank the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) for constantly parading his political obsessions before us? Does she agree that they may account for the current standing in public opinion of the Labour party and its leader?
§ The Prime MinisterI am very grateful for the fact that I am not responsible for the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell).
§ Mr. BennNow that the Cabinet documents for 1956 have been published and are, therefore, no longer covered by any matter relating to immediate security, and now that it is clear that there was collusion then with the Israeli Government, and that—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. This is not an open question. The question on the Order Paper is specifically about correspondence conducted between Sir Robert Armstrong and Mr. Chapman Pincher.
§ Mr. BennBut with great respect, Mr. Speaker, one of the points referred to by Mr. Peter Wright in the book that is being suppressed is the attempt by MI6 to assassinate Colonel Nasser.