§ 2.40 p.m.
§ LORD VANSITTARTMy Lords, I beg to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any further information has been received on the position of Messrs. Maclean and Burgess, and whether measures have been devised or are under contemplation to safeguard the Foreign Service from such contaminations.]
THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (THE MARQUESS OF READING)My Lords, Her Majesty's Government have received no further positive evidence about the position of Messrs. Maclean and Burgess since these two men disembarked at St. Malo on May 26 last. Telegrams ostensibly sent by them from Paris and Rome respectively were received by Mr. Maclean's mother and wife and by Mr. Burgess' mother on June 7. Inquiries failed, however, to confirm that they had themselves despatched these messages.
Investigations are still continuing, but by the use of the word "contaminations" the noble Lord appears to be prejudging the issue. If the purpose of the second part of his Question is to inquire as to the application of the procedure for barring Communists and Fascists from positions where they may have access to information vital to the security of the State, I can assure him that that procedure applies equally to the Foreign Service as to other Departments. Further, as the noble Lord is no doubt aware, it has recently been announce I that special inquiries will be made about persons holding key posts in the Government employ. This procedure also will apply to the holders of key posts in the Foreign Service.
§ LORD VANSITTARTMy Lords, I thank the noble Marquess for his reply. I would ask him whether he is aware—probably he is—that the system of screening in the past has not been reliable, and whether he will consider measures to improve or tighten the system in future.
THE MARQUESS OF READINGMy Lords, as I indicated in the last part of my answer to the original Question, a 202 new system is about to be introduced, and I hope that that system will prove as efficient as both we and the noble Lord desire.