OFFICIAL SECRETS ACTS

HC Deb 18 December 1969 vol 793 cc1549-50

Q7. Mr. Arthur Davidson

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the working of the Official Secrets Acts; and if he will make a statement.

The Prime Minister

Yes, Sir.

Mr. Davidson

is my right hon. Friend aware that the recent White Paper, while going some way forward in foreshadowing a more generous dissemination of official information, was hardly world shattering in its proposals? In view of the use that everybody makes of the word "participation", has not the time come to set up perhaps a Royal Commission to look into the whole workings of the Official Secrets Acts?

The Prime Minister

I do not think that it would be possible to go into all the points raised in the White Paper on information and the public interest by way of question and answer. There have been other opportunities for the House to do that. I do not think that this is a question of the Official Secrets Acts. Those Acts are not a barrier to greater openness about Government business, as my hon. Friend suggests. They are concerned with unauthorised disclosure of information. That is a different question.