§ Q3. Mr. Whitakerasked the Prime Minister what steps he now intends to take to change the Official Secrets Act in view of the recommendations of the Fulton Committee and those sent to him by Professor Hugh Thomas.
§ The Prime MinisterI would refer my hon. Friend to paragraphs 31–35 of the White Paper on Information and the Public Interest, published on 20th June.
§ Mr. WhitakerWhat action will follow from the White Paper? Is my right hon Friend satisfied that it safeguards the interests of departmental civil servants? Is he also satisfied that it represents the interests of the public as much as possible 1211 in taking part in participatory democracy where matters involving security or confidential information are not involved?
§ The Prime MinisterI agree with my hon. Friend's approach to the question, and this is why we have opened up a wide range of Government activities through the creation of specialist Select Committees. My hon. Friend will no doubt have studied what we said about the Official Secrets Acts in paragraph 34 of the White Paper.