26 JULY 1963, Page 8

Spectator's Notebook

MR. ANTHONY WEST, in his recent article, criticised a number of MPs, including Mr. Reginald Paget, QC, because of recent statements in the House calculated to reflect on others. I be- lieve Mr. West had the last paragraph of Mr. Paget's speech particularly in mind, but in fact Mr. Paget had been pretty vehement on the oppo- site side and has always taken the view that privilege should not be used to cloak defamatory statements about individuals and that it is the job of MPs to watch civil liberties and leave security to the-Government.