P108 CEEFAX 108  Sun 19 Dec  14:42/14
    
    
    
    
                                        
 The Home Secretary, Mr Willie Whitelaw,
 has denied a newspaper report about his
 role in the appointment of a new       
 Secretary of State for Defence.        
                                        
 The Obsjrvjr claims he was asked to    
 intervene in a ca"injt row to prevent  
 Mr Michael Hesjltinj - the present     
 Environment Secretary - from taking the
 defence job.                           
                                        
 The report s!ys he was approached "y   
 the Chief of the Defence Staff, Sir    
 Edwin Bramall.                         
                                        
 Mr Whitelaw s!id there was absolutely  
 no truth in the rumour and he had njvjr
 discussed the matter with Sir Edwin.