13 AUGUST 1965, Page 9

Spectator's Notebook

OFFER an interesting footnote to the corre- I spondence now going on in The Times about the Parliamentary Correspondent's reports of de- bates in the House of Commons. It is a fact that Tory Members of Parliament frequently find it hard to believe that they have been listening to the same speeches as the Parliamentary Corre- spondent. Equally, it is a fair retort to say that Tory (and other) MPs are naturally prejudiced in favour of their own side and therefore not the best witnesses to the impartiality of comment.

A letter this week in The Times judges the reports to be 'objective and accurate [and] enter- tainingly witty.' This may well be so, although I find it hard to' see how the author can judge the first two claims unless he was present at the debates in question. And in any case, what is the answer to a letter by a colleague to The Times as long as ago as July 30?

Dear Sir,

At the end of your Parliamentary Report of Mr. Barber's speech on page 14 today. you put the words: '(loud Opposition cheers).' That is correct. I was there, and with my colleagues

cheered loudly.

On page 10 of the same issue your Parlia- mentary Correspondent says: 'When Mr. Barber sat down the silence behind him was damning.'

Will you please clarify? Your faithfully.

Antony Grant (MP).