asked the Home Secretary the number of persons in this country convicted for making statements useful to the enemy since December, 1942?

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to convictions under Regulation 3 of the Defence Regulations. I regret that the figures for which he asks are not yet available.

If I send my right hon. Friend a report of a speech which named a certain firm in the North and specifically mentioned the type of gun produced there, the amount of T.N.T. and cordite produced and the number of Ministry of Aircraft Production factories in the area, will he make the necessary inquiries with a view to taking further action?

I certainly will.

Will it make any difference if I point out that it was made by a Member of the House and a member of the Government?

May we have an assurance that no less serious action will be taken because the offender is a member of the Government than would be taken against anyone else?

I promised that I would consider the representations my hon. Friend makes, and I will still consider them very carefully.