§ Mr. WinnickTo ask the Prime Minister if it is Govnerment policy that interception of telephones of hon. Members by the Security Service requires his authorisation; and if he will make a statement. [13358]
§ The Prime MinisterThis Government's policy on the interception of telephones of Members of Parliament remains as stated in 1966 by the then Prime Minister, the Lord Wilson of Rievaulx, and as applied by successive Governments since. In answer to questions on 17 November 1966, Lord Wilson said that he had given instructions that there was to be no tapping of the telephones of Members of Parliament and that, if there were a development which required such a change of policy, he would at such moment as seemed compatible with the security of the country, on his own initiative, make a statement in the House about it.