National Security

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 11:18 am on 16 November 1979.

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Photo of Mr Chris Price Mr Chris Price , Lewisham West 11:18, 16 November 1979

I apologise, Mr. Speaker, for going the wrong way round.

In your long experience of this House, Mr. Speaker, you have seen the odd security scandal in your time, other than this one. May I ask you to confirm that there are precedents, in the Burgess and Maclean case, for bringing this subject to the Floor of the House for a full debate? I ask you to confirm that you have studied all the precedents—I am sure you have—and that there is no absolute ban on discussing very grave and important matters of this kind in a full debate on the Floor of the House.