LORD PRIVY SEAL OFFICE ID:0712700491
15 FEB '93 11:47 No.006 P.02/04
SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT OF THE RADCLIFFE COMMITTEE ON MINISTERIAL MEMOIRS (Cand.6386, JANUARY 1976)
-1.
The conventions currently governing the publication by former Ministers of memoirs and other works relating to their experience as Ministers were laid down in a statement made in the House of Commons on 1 August 1946 on behalf of the Prime Minister (Mr Attlee) by the Lord President of the Council (Mr Herbert Morrison). This was based on a memorandum by the Secretary of the Cabinet, Sir Edward Bridges, which Mr Attlee's Cabinet had approved. (Paragraphs 13, 14, 41, 42).
2.
The conventions established in 1946 have been maintained under successive Administrations and the Committee do not recommend modification of the principles then advocated. They do however draw cut of the conventions certain specific working rules; and make recommendations as to the administrative structure which should condition the clearance of an ex-Minister's intended memoirs. The conventions are to be regarded as concessions made to the author, rather than as restrictions imposed on him. (Paragraphs 19, 38, 43).
3.
The author should be free to use his Ministerial experience for the purpose of giving an account of his own work, subject to restrictions on three separate categories of information:
1.- He must not reveal anything that contravenes the require- ments of national security operative at the time of his pro- posed publication.
2. He must not make disclosures injurious to this country's relations with other nations.
3. He must refrain from publishing information destructive of the confidential relationships on which our system of government is based. In particular
a. In dealing with the experience that he has acquired by virtue of his official position, he should not reveal the opinions or attitudes of colleagues as to the Government business with which they have been concerned. That belongs to their stewardship, not to his. He may, on the other hand, describe and account for his
own.
He should not reveal the advice given to him by individuals whose duty it has been to tender him their advice or opinions in confidence. If he wishes to mention the burden or weight of such advice, it must be done without attributing individual attitudes to identifiable persons. Again, he will need to exercise a continuing discretion in any references that he makes to communications received by him in confidence from outside members of the public.
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