Written question asked by Peter Bottomley (Conservative) on Thursday, 9 July 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 20 July 1998. It was answered by Tony Blair (Labour) on Monday, 20 July 1998 on behalf of the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister

Question: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral Answer of 8th July, to the Right honourable Member for Richmond (Yorks), Official Report, 315 c1065-8 what factors led him to his conclusion that The Observer claimed to have a tape recording of a conversation with a member of his staff in relation to payments for contacts; and when he reached that conclusion.

Answer: Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer to the right hon. Member for Richmond, Yorks (Mr. Hague) on 8 July 1998, Official Report, column 1065, what factors led him to his conclusion that The Observer claimed to have a tape recording of a conversation with a member of his staff in relation to payments for contacts; and when he reached that conclusion. [50533] The Prime Minister: In an interview broadcast on BBC Radio Five Live on 6 July 1998, Mr. Gregory Pallast, a journalist from The Observer, was asked in relation to an alleged conversation with a member of my staff "Do you have that on tape?". Mr. Pallast replied "I have that for certain". In a discussion broadcast that evening on the BBC television programme "Newsnight" Mr. Pallast was again repeatedly asked whether he could produce a tape. He did not take the opportunity to deny that one existed.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 316 c389W; 50533
Session: 1997-98
Subjects: Disclosure of information Audio recordings Government departments Newspaper press The Observer Palast, Greg