HL Deb 15 May 1987 vol 487 cc822-3WA
Lord Chelwood

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether Peers and Members of the House of Commons who take the oath are still exempted from surveillance by the security services, without the specific authority of the Prime Minister of the day, since the direction to that effect by Lord Wilson of Rievaulx when Prime Minister.

The Minister of State, Home Office (The Earl of Caithness)

There has been no change in the policy stated in 1966 by the then Prime Minister the noble Lord, Lord Wilson of Rievaulx, and to which successive governments since then have adhered. In answer to questions in another place on 17th November 1966 (Official Report, Commons, cols. 634–41), he said that he had given instructions that there was to be no tapping of the telephones of Members of Parliament; that that remained the policy of the Government and that, if there were any development which required a change in the general policy, he would, at such moment as seen compatible with the security of the country, on his own initiative make a Statement in the House about it. In answer to a Question in your Lordships' House on 22nd November 1966 (Official Report, col. 122) the noble Earl, Lord Longford, indicated on behalf of the Government that the foregoing statement extended to your Lordships' House. The policy as stated by the noble Lord, Lord Wilson, when Prime Minister, has since been reaffirmed in answers to Questions in another place by my right honourable friend the Prime Minister (Official Report, Commons, 6th February 1980, cols. 244-245, and 10th December 1986, col. 161) and by my right honourable friend the then Home Secretary (Official Report, Commons 11th December 1984, cols. 405-406).