If you read the MoD statement - it looks as though the press issue has been driven by the media pressure on families, which in turn has led to some of the 15 seeking permission from the Navy. Hence the MoD appears to be left with little choice - either:
a) refuse them permission - loosing all control of the story that would leak out via families, and have MoD being accused of a cover up! or
b) grant permission for reasons mentioned below.
I tend to agree with the sentiment that this isn't really the done thing though - was a) really an option for MoD?
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The Ministry of Defence has issued the following statement regarding the decision by the Royal Navy to allow the personnel who were seized by the Iranian authorities on 23 March 2007 to be allowed to receive payment for media interviews.
MOD Announcement . Opens in a new window.
MOD Announcement
Service personnel must seek permission from the Chain of Command before speaking to the media. Queen’s Regulations for the Royal Navy allow personnel to retain fees paid to them for broadcasting, lecturing or writing for publication under certain circumstances and the Navy’s judgement was that in this particular instance this was such a case.
This decision has been taken as a result of exceptional media interest. It is a fact that the media have been making direct contact with the families and offering them significant sums of money – this is not something that the Navy and the MOD have any control over.
Quite aside from the ‘human interest story’ surrounding these individuals, there are also sensitive strategic issues in play. It was clear that the stories they had to tell were likely to have emerged via family and friends regardless of any decision the Navy took.
It was therefore decided to grant permission to speak to the media to those personnel that sought it, in order to ensure that the Navy and the MOD had sight of what they were going to say – as well as providing proper media support to the sailors and Marines in the same way as would have been the case in more ordinary circumstances.