§ 17. Mr. Beithasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he now proposes to introduce legislation repealing Section 2 of the Official Secrets Act.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsI have nothing at present to add to the announcement of the Government's intentions in the Queen's Speech.
§ Mr. BeithDoes the right hon. Gentleman agree that in the five years since the Franks Committee made its important recommendations we have not gone very far along the road to open Government? Does he also agree that when considering issues of privacy and the protection of the privacy of the citizen it is important that we do not forget that those issues and official secrets are related, and that they should be seen as closely related when new legislation is being considered?
§ Mr. JenkinsI think that there is a certain relationship, although I would not describe it as an indissoluble link. However, I think that the one, to some extent, can be considered on its own. In the Queen's Speech the Government said that they would endeavour to bring forward proposals in the course of this Session, possibly with a view of going further next Session.