§ 2.40 p.m.
§ VISCOUNT MASSEREENE AND FERRARDMy Lords, I beg leave 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 they will consider introducing legislation to make it illegal for a criminal to sell the story of his misdeeds to the Press, Radio or Television.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (LORD STONHAM)My Lords, the Government fully recognise the undesirability of exploiting crime by this means. I understand that the Press Council are reviewing the subject and that they have obtained a good deal of information which is being closely studied. I think that we should await the result of this review before considering the matter further.
§ VISCOUNT MASSEREENE AND FERRARDMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord.
§ BARONESS HORSBRUGHMy Lords, will the Minister take into account, in a case where large sums are obtained for selling such stories, that that fact should be considered when the amount of legal aid is being assessed?
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, I think that that question scarcely arises from the original Question. The position is that the Home Secretary cannot prevent released prisoners from communicating with the Press; but he takes all possible steps—and successful steps—to prevent persons in prison from communicating with, or giving stories to, the Press. But it often happens that newspapers get their information from other sources, and all they need is the signature of the criminal. That, of course, is something that we cannot really prevent.
§ VISCOUNT DILHORNEMy Lords, is it not the case that if a contract is made to sell reminiscences to the Press, if the contract is made before trial and that is known, that would be taken into account before any grant of legal aid was made?
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, quite obviously any grants of that kind might be included in the means of the applicant for legal aid; if the means were large enough, then he would not qualify for legal aid.
§ LORD WILLISMy Lords, does not the Minister agree that most of these stories are highly fictionalised anyway, and that if you draw the line at criminals writing about their misdeeds, obviously you may reach the point where you forbid politicians to write about their misdeeds?
§ LORD STONHAMI am quite sure my noble friend, with his considerable experience, can advise us on this point; but it is the case that responsible opinion has the view that activities of some newspapers in this field are to be deplored, and it is to be hoped that the Press Council will assist us in persuading these newspapers to put their house in order.
§ VISCOUNT MASSEREENE AND FERRARDMy Lords, does the noble Lord realise that the big fees presumably paid to these people for writing their stories do rather make young people think that crime pays? I cannot agree with the comparison drawn by the noble Lord, Lord Willis, regarding politicians.
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, any young people who think that crime pays would only have to experience the delights of a borstal or of one of Her Majesty's prisons to be sure that it does not.