§ Q2. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Prime Minister what interim steps he has taken to improve security within all Departments pending the findings of the full inquiry into these matters.
§ The Prime MinisterI would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer which I gave on Tuesday to a Question from the hon. Member for Nuneaton (Mr. Leslie Huckfield).—[Vol. 818, c. 230–1.]
§ Mr. HamiltonCan the Prime Minister assure the House that there is a continuing process in attempting to improve security in Government Departments, and will he be able to come to the House in the near future to say what are the findings of the committee of inquiry and whether, in the meantime, Government Departments are any less leaky than they have been in the past few months?
§ The Prime MinisterI will not comment on the last part of the hon. Gentleman's question. Obviously it will be covered by the statement that I shall make later about police inquiries as well as the inquiries that the Government have made.
There were three main Departments which kept personal confidential information. They had standing instructions under the last Government, and these were renewed by this Administration when we came to office. They have again been reinforced with those Departments, and they have been extended to all other Departments so that every Government Department is effectively covered by the instructions.