HC Deb 25 April 1963 vol 676 cc408-10
29. Sir G. Nabarro

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that the document, "Danger: Official Secret R.S.G.6," posted anonymously on 11th April to the hon. Member for Kidderminster and to many newspapers and others named in the document, and a copy of which has been sent to him, is a contravention of the Official Secrets Acts; and what action he proposes to take.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Henry Brooke)

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 23rd April.

Sir G. Nabarro

Does my right hon. Friend recall that the Prime Minister said that vigorous steps are being taken to identify the person or persons responsible? Is he aware that since last Tuesday an abridged version of the original document referred to in the Question, evidently in very large quantities, is being distributed in London under the title, "Official Secret R.S.G/", and with a caption attached to it saying, "You are not fit to judge what is being done in your name. Now you can judge. Now you can act"? Can my right hon. Friend say, in view of the gravity of this situation and the fact that these leaflets are not only proliferating, but are evidently increasing in number, when it will be possible to trace the authors?

Mr. Brooke

What I can tell the House is that every possible effort is being made by the Special Branch to discover those who were responsible for the original leakage and those who were responsible for publication. It is quite beyond my power to forecast the date at which those enormous efforts will be successful.

Mr. Gordon Walker

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that it is an abuse of the D notice to use it for keeping this document from the knowledge of the British public when it is already in the possession of any foreign Government who want this document? Is it not an abuse of the D notice? Does it not suggest that the Government are using the D notice, not to preserve security, but to avoid embarrassment?

Mr. Brooke

On that subject I can say nothing beyond what my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said today and on Tuesday.

Mr. Lipton

What legal action has been taken against those hon. Members to whom this document has been sent and who are retaining the custody of it?

Mr. Brooke

If the hon. Member invites me, I will consider what action may be taken against him.

Sir G. Nabarro

Does my right hon. Friend recall that within hours of my receiving the original document, since I was named in it, I remitted the document to him? Is he aware that the further document I referred to arrived with me two hours ago and that I shall remit it to him within minutes?

32. Mr. Fletcher

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied with the measures taken by his Department for ensuring secrecy in matters relating to civil defence; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Brooke

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister explained on Tuesday, civil defence requires the services of large numbers of people from a wide variety of occupations, and this must inevitably give rise to some security risk. Every effort is being made to trace those responsible for the recent disclosures; and I am having our security arrangements for exercises of this kind reviewed once more.

Mr. Fletcher

Would the Home Secretary explain to the House how he reconciles his desire for secrecy, about which he is not very successful, with the obvious need to secure public support and cooperation in civil defence measures? Is it not very much better that he should take the country much more fully into his confidence and explain what the plans are for dealing with emergencies?

Mr. Brooke

Everybody should know what the plans are, but there are certain matters which have a secret character and which it is not desirable to publicise everywhere.

Mr. Paget

Surely the details in this document are just the sort of information which people ought to have in order to know what they ought to do in this sort of emergency?

Mr. Brooke

I do not think it would assist the conduct of proceedings if everybody were given the telephone number of each one of these regional seats of Government.

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