§ 11. Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he now expects to publish his White Paper on the Official Secrets Act.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesShortly.
§ Mr. PriceHas my right hon. Friend read the excellent article in The Guardian today by his former political adviser, Mr. Roger Darlington, which makes clear the enormous gap between the Government's proposals on official secrets and Labour's manifesto commitment? When do the Government intend to reform not only section 2 but section 1 of the Act and provide an official Freedom of Information Act?
§ Mr. ReesOur commitment was in the Gracious Speech, and it is that matter which affects the House. However, I advise my hon. Friend to wait and see what is contained in the White Paper. After that is published, I shall be most interested to hear from my hon. Friend—with his vast experience—how this legislation works in other parts of the world.
§ Mr. Edward GardnerDoes the Home Secretary recognise that the prime weakness of the Official Secrets Act is its failure to distinguish between the revelation of secrets which injure the security of the country and the revelation of secrets which would merely embarrass the Government? Is it true, as reported in today's article in The Guardian by Mr. Darlington, that the forthcoming White Paper will make no contribution towards the advance of open Government?
§ Mr. ReesI shall not comment on the last part of the hon. and learned Gentleman's supplementary question. However, with regard to the first part I remind him that I served on the Franks Committee. I advise him to read the report of that committee. He has obviously read only one chapter of it.
§ Miss RichardsonDoes not the Home Secretary agree that there is widespread public anxiety over the "catch-all" provisions of the Official Secrets Act, not only in section 2 but, as has already been referred to, in section 1? Does my right hon. Friend accept that there will be grave dissatisfaction, probably on both sides of the House, if the White Paper follows the predictions of Roger Darlington and is limited in the way that he suggests? All of us want a Freedom of Information Act.