OFFICIAL SECRETS BILL. (No. 112.) (Hansard, 11 July 1889)

§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR
My Lords, I have very few observations to make in moving the Second Reading of this Bill. It is one which has passed the other House of Parliament. In recent years we have had very conspicuous examples of the necessity of guarding official secrets, and protecting official documents. It is a duty which every citizen owes to the country, that he should not facilitate the military operations of other countries by giving copies of official documents, and this Bill is intended to remedy existing defects in our law in that respect. It provides for the punishment of those persons who either give information to the enemies of the country, or who act as spies, or make or communicate plans or sketches of fortresses and like places, or disclose official secrets. In such cases the authorities may take such steps as may be thought fit. If any person so communicate to another country adversely to the interests of this country, it is made felony and the subject of a severe penalty. If plans or sketches are not made with so evil a design as that, but merely for the purpose of idle curiosity, provision is made for meeting such a case—that is to say, if the offender does not intend to communicate with the enemy. Another class of offences is the disclosure of official secrets. Where a person who is holding, or has held, office under Her Majesty, or has in his possession or control any official document, should in like manner communicate with those who may become the Queen's enemies, severe penalties are enacted. I hope your Lordships will consider it right that this Bill should be read a second time.

§ LORD HERSCHELL
My Lords, though I entirely approve of the general objects of the Bill I cannot help thinking that in some of its details it goes too far. The first section provides that any person who takes such a sketch as may be useful to the Queen's enemies may be liable to the same severe penalties as are imposed upon an offender who intends to communicate it to them.

§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR
If he is acting as a spy.

§ LORD HERSCHELL
It is quite clear that "acting as a spy" does not come in; that is another sub-section. Reference is made to its being made for honest purposes, and of course in that case he does not act as a spy, and he is not therefore liable. I am quite sure that cannot have been intended, and I only call attention to it with the view to its being remedied.

§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR
It is one of the in conveniences of the present system that a person holding the office which I have the honour at present to hold is supposed to be responsible for looking after a Bill of this sort, and to see that, the details of it are properly arranged.