§ Q3. Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Prime Minister whether he will make a further statement about the confidentiality and security of information stored by Government Departments in the light of the information now supplied to him.
§ The Prime MinisterPolice inquiries are continuing into allegations of criminal conduct made in The Guardian, and I will make a statement to the House as soon as possible.
§ Mr. HuckfieldWhile I am grateful to the Prime Minister for that information, may I ask him if he is aware there 231 is a great deal of concern about the confidentiality of the information? Is he aware that there will be even more concern once such information is stored on a computer? Can he tell the House whether this inquiry will include the activities of the staff of the Registrar-General and the Census Office?
§ The Prime MinisterIt would be inappropriate for me to try to say with what sphere police inquiries into allegations of criminal conduct are concerned. As to the inquiry which I instituted at once into the standing orders and instructions in Government Departments, that involves all Government Departments and associated organisations.
§ Mr. PardoeWhile welcoming the Prime Minister's reaction to The Guardian allegations, may I ask whether he can say how far the investigation now being carried out by Scotland Yard cuts across the work of the Younger Committee? Does he think, in the light of the information now available, that the terms of reference of that Committee should be changed?
§ The Prime MinisterAny police investigation into an allegation of criminal conduct does not in any way cut across the work of the Younger Committee. That is entirely separate. The Younger Committee has been asked to take into account the reports which appeared in the Press and the statement that I made to the House immediately afterwards.