HL Deb 08 April 1963 vol 248 cc795-6

2.35 p.m.

BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRY

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in view of the information supplied to them by the Baroness Burton of Coventry, they will make a further statement concerning any details given orally to the Press on Tuesday, March 26 last when the appointment of a Chairman of the Consumer Council was announced.]

THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL AND MINISTER FOR SCIENCE (VISCOUNT HAILSHAM)

No, my Lords.

BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRY

My Lords, may I ask the Lord President why, when I sent to the Government information, taken from the Daily Telegraph on Tuesday last, which stated, referring to the Minister of State—and I quote—that the Minister must have known that both the information and the subsequent correction came from the Government", and when there were three points which appeared in the reputable Press the next day which were not contained in the Press release of the day before, the Government find it impossible to tell the House from where this information came?

VISCOUNT HAILSHAM

My Lords, I said that the Government did not think it right to make a further statement.

BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRY

But, my Lords, may I ask the Lord President why it is not possible, when quite obviously somebody has slipped up—and we can all make mistakes—for the Government to say that they regret that something of this nature did happen, so that we can leave the matter? Is he aware that in Parliament, where his experience is much longer than mine, when a Member of either side of the House sends in information from a reputable newspaper which would imply that a Government spokesman has made an incorrect statement, it surely is something new for the Government to refuse a statement on it?

VISCOUNT HAILSHAM

I do not accept that my noble friend's statement was incorrect.

LORD LINDGREN

My Lords, can the noble Viscount give us some information as to why there is secrecy and reticence in this matter?

VISCOUNT HAILSHAM

My Lords, I do not accept that there has been any secrecy in the matter.

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