§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what co-operation they have received from the proprietors of the Sun newspaper to assist the authorities in apprehending Ronald Biggs.]
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, on April 14 the proprietors made available to the police documents relating to the series of articles recently published in their newspaper. These documents were returned to the editor two days later, and he undertook to pass on to the police any information he might receive as to the whereabouts of Biggs.
§ LORD WADEMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that on April 20 the Sun newspaper under the heading "Nominated by Scotland Yard", stated that senior officers of the Yard could find nothing in the articles that they would like to delete, and that publication might help them to track down Biggs? Is that correct?
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, I understand that the Commissioner of Police caused all the officers concerned to be questioned about the statement that the articles would help them in the tracking down of Biggs, and I am informed that they all denied having said any such thing. Moreover, the Commissioner of Police said it was pure nonsense that the publication of such articles would assist in the detection of criminals.
§ LORD WADEMy Lords, does not that Answer cast grave doubt on the credibility and honesty of the other arguments put forward for the publication of these articles?
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, I should not care to say anything about the honesty of the articles. As to their credibility, my information is that one reason why the proprietors wished to submit them to the police beforehand was to get an opinion as to their authenticity or otherwise. They were somewhat disappointed to find that there was doubt both as to the signatures on the articles and also the fingerprint or thumbprint.
§ LORD FRANCIS-WILLIAMSMy Lords, is it not the case that the Australian police—and it was originally in Australia that the documents were bought—have now stated that in their view the documents bought by the Murdoch interests were not written by Biggs? In the light of this, and of the strong condemnation by the National Union of Journalists of the action of the Sun in printing these articles, would it not be better to leave the matter to the Press Council, which by its code of conduct and its principles will well know how to express an opinion on this matter?
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, as to the first part of what my noble friend has said, that appears to bear out the opinion which I reported as being expressed by the police authorities in this country. As to the Press Council, I agree with my noble friend that this is a matter which might well be put before them. I understand that it has in fact gone before them, and if their declaration of principle means anything at all, I should have thought that it would cover the publication of these articles.
§ LORD WADEMy Lords, I should like to put one other supplementary question. If it is important that crime should not pay, and should be seen not to pay, is it not contrary to public interests that large sums should be paid to a criminal for his memoirs, either to the criminal or to some third party on his instructions or the instructions of his agent?
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, I quite agree with the noble Lord. As to the alleged cloak of respectability which is put around this publication because of the fact that the proceeds are paid to the children, it seems to me particularly repugnant to provide for the children out of the proceeds of crime.