§ Mr. Englishasked the Prime Minister why the Foreign Press Association was permitted to collect only two copies of the Franks report for its approximately 450 members; at what level these arrangements were authorised; and whether she will ensure that better arrangements are made in future for the distribution of documents of international importance to the foreign press.
359W
§ The Prime MinisterMy chief press secretary arranged for 250 copies of the Franks report to be available in the Press Gallery, 50 of which were reserved for the foreign press. Foreign journalists were also able to obtain copies from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and HMSO. In addition the Foreign Press Association secretariat collected two copies from 10 Downing Street. I am satisfied these arrangements were appropriate.