§ SIR SEYMOUR KING (Hull, Central)To ask the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that in a catalogue 205 recently issued by a London bookseller a number of papers issued by the Indian Government and marked confidential, among them being Routes in Central Asia, compiled under the orders of Lord Roberts, in six volumes, and other volumes compiled in the Intelligence Branch of the Quartermaster General's Department, wore offered for sale; and whether steps will be, or have been, taken to prevent the recurrence of a public sale of Indian Government confidential reports; and if the offence is not punishable under existing Acts, whether the necessary powers will be sought for by fresh legislation.
(Answered by Secretary Lord George Hamilton..) My attention was drawn to the catalogue in question, and steps were taken to prevent such of the books as were still of a confidential nature from passing into improper hands. The books in question appear to have passed out of official custody many years ago. During more recent years stricter regulations have been in force to prevent Indian Government reports of a confidential character getting into the market. I am advised that, under certain circumstances, if an officer of Government offered such books for sale, it might be possible to charge him with breach of trust under The Official Secrets Act, 1889, and that the advertisement and sale of such books might, in certain circumstances, be restrained by injunction. I am not aware that any fresh legislation on this subject is proposed in this country.