Apart from the question of privilege, very wide issues in
connexion with freedom of speech are raised. Let us admit at once that the recent Debates on the Air Estimates and the reconstruction of the Government which followed would not have been possible unless official information had come into the possession of the Opposition. Unless information is to be available to Members of Parliament, the democratic criticism of Ministers would become impossible. Moreover, the pressure of informed public opinion, inside and outside the House of Commons, does in fact exercise a very great influence in stimulating the activities of the defence Services. While no one can wish to make public information which it is in the interests of the country to keep secret, it is only natural that there may be a suspicion that the secrecy may sometimes be in the interests, not so much of the country as of the Government.
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