§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the additional information supplied to his office on the morning of Thursday, 23rd November showing that complete details of his official ministerial statement concerning the appointment as Sir Con O'Neill as Chairman of the Intervention Board made on Wednesday, 22nd November were published in the Press on 14th November, he will cause an investigation to be made to ascertain to what extent this information was given to the Press for payment by civil servants in his Department.
§ Mr. GodberNo evidence to justify the hon. Member's charges has been produced. I have, therefore, nothing to add to the answer given by the Prime Minister to the hon. Member on 30th November, 1972.—[Vol. 847, c.237–8.]
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has received the communication from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, dated 22nd November, regarding the leakage of information concerning the appointment of Sir Con O'Neill; and whether he will make a statement in connection with the same.
§ Mr. GodberThe answer to the first part is, "Yes". With regard to the second part of the question, I have no information on the basis of the Press article to which the hon. Member refers.