§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Prime Minister who authorised the statement made by Sir Ewen Broadbent concerning the Ponting case on the BBC 1 o'clock news on 15 February; and whether she was consulted or in any way involved in the decision that that statement should be made.
§ The Prime MinisterSir Ewen Broadbent was approached by BBC Radio 4 on the morning of 15 February with a request for an interview about his involvement in the circumstances leading up to the decision to prosecute Mr. Ponting under section 2 of the Official Secrets Act. Sir Ewen Broadbent sought, and obtained, the agreement of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence to his taking part in this interview. I was not consulted about, nor involved in any way, in the handling of Sir Ewen's request.