§ Q36. Mr. Grimondasked the Prime Minister if she will give instructions that no copies of ministerial statements should be issued to the press before such statements are made in Parliament.
§ The Prime MinisterMinisterial statements are not issued to the press before they are made in Parliament. This necessary courtesy is well understood and observed. As I made clear last week—[Vol. 12, c. 661]—I find leaks of the contents of ministerial statements offensive.