§ Q12. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Prime Minister whether he will cause an investigation to be made to ascertain how and in what manner the Daily Telegraph was able to obtain and publish on 1st October full and complete details of his proposals concerning the change in the honours award system when the exact statement as then published was not made to the House of Commons until Tuesday, 358W 10th November, 1970; and whether he will take action to prevent leaks to the Press and official handouts before such statements are made to the House of Commons.
§ The Prime MinisterI assume that the hon. Gentleman is referring to the article which appeared in theDaily Telegraph on 10th October. I have no reason to think that any official information was improperly divulged by Government sources, and I see no need for an investigation. As to further action, I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which I gave to him on 9th July.—[Vol. 803, c. 94.]