§ 56. Mr. James Davidsonasked the Secretary of State for Defence if applicants for entry to the Armed Forces who are likely to come into contact with classified material during their Service careers are subject to security inquiries to establish their reliability, whether or not they are of British parentage.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe rules for access to classified material in the Armed Forces apply irrespective of parentage. Consequently, any security inquiries required by these rules are made whether or not the individual is of British parentage.
§ Mr. DavidsonIn that case, does the Minister agree that the country of origin of parents of an applicant is irrelevant?
§ Mr. ReesThe hon. Member's next Question is more concerned with that matter. Once a person is in the Armed Forces, however, irrespective of parentage, if he has access to classified material the rules of access apply irrespective of who the parents might be.