§ 31. Mr. DalyellTo ask the Attorney-General what consideration he has given to the contents of Mr. Alan Clark's memoirs in connection with the disclosure of information covered by the Official Secrets Act 1989.
§ The Attorney-GeneralNone. Former Ministers are required to submit their memoirs to the Secretary of the Cabinet before publication. Matters of national security are considered in accordance with the principles set out in the Radcliffe report of 1976, Command 6386.
§ Mr. DalyellOn the content of Alan Clark's contribution, may I ask a question of which I have given 566 notice? Are Law Officers and Foreign Office legal advisers sure that our country has not contravened the 1989 convention on the rights of the child—which relates to what happens to children as a result of armed conflict—in the light of the fact that thousands of babies are literally dying weekly in Iraq as a result of sanctions?
§ The Attorney-GeneralI have seen a report of the hon. Gentleman's recent visit to Iraq. I am satisfied that the United Kingdom is complying with all its international obligations in this respect.
§ Mr. RoweOfficial secrets apart, will my right hon. and learned Friend give an undertaking that he will use his best endeavours with those Cabinet Ministers and former Prime Ministers who are in the business of compiling their memoirs to make them at least as vivid, prejudiced and entertaining as the memoirs which have been referred to hitherto?
§ The Attorney-GeneralAn invitation like that causes me to think that my hon. Friend must be preparing something special.