HC Deb 12 June 1973 vol 857 cc301-2W
Mr. Mudd

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the respective dates and GMT times of Press releases by Her Majesty's embassies of material relating to the House of Commons statement by his right hon. Friend the Prime Minister of Thursday 24th May 1973.

Mr. Anthony Royle

As is usual when important ministerial statements are made in the House, the text of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's statement was telegraphed to certain overseas posts during the evening of 24th May, and copies were despatched by air mail to all Her Majesty's embassies and other independent posts the following day. This action is primarily for the information of the respective heads of mission. There is no information immediately available as to which, if any, of Her Majesty's embassies issued the statement as a Press release, and the cost to public funds involved in asking the 156 recipient overseas posts for this information could hardly be justified.