§ Mr. Roebuckasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what alterations have been made by his Department in procedures for briefing the Press; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. George BrownNo alterations have been made in my Department in procedures for briefing the Press.
Press conferences are normally on the record. My Department gives such a conference every working day.
In addition the Department often gives information to the Press non-attributably. This means that the information is for use but not for attribution to the Department. Such information may be useful to correspondents seeking a full understanding of the subject, but it may be unsuitable for statement on the record if, for example, it includes comment on the attitude of another Government.
Very occasionally, discussions are also held on a not for use basis, but only with the agreement of the correspondents concerned.
The aim of all these arrangements is to help the Press to understand developments in foreign affairs and to interpret them accurately.