HL Deb 26 April 1983 vol 441 cc799-801

2.37 p.m.

Lord Balfour of Inchrye

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they consider that present methods of safeguarding secrecy for Government papers available to Ministers and departmental officials are adequate or whether they require review with a view to achieving some improvement.

Baroness Young

My Lords, every effort is made to keep classified information secure. The arrangements are kept under review and changed as necessary.

Lord Balfour of Inchrye

My Lords, does the Minister consider that the present procedures are adequate, in the light of the results hitherto achieved?

Baroness Young

My Lords, as I have indicated, the arrangements are kept under review, and it has to be remembered that in a free society a balance has to be struck between efficiency and security. The fact of the matter is that no system, however draconian, can ever be regarded as infallible.

Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that the House would, no doubt, agree with what she has said on that point? Could she say, following the substantial leak of Government information on family policy to The Guardian newspaper in February, what action was taken at the time? Was there an inquiry and, if so, what kind of inquiry? What was the result of the inquiry and were there any reports which will be made public?

Baroness Young

My Lords, on the point which the noble Lord, Lord Cledwyn, has raised, inquiries were made and the investigators' reports are being studied. But it is not the practice to disclose any of the information or the result of the investigation.

Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

My Lords, I am extremely grateful to the noble Baroness for that information. Could she perhaps go a step further and say what will be the results of the study, who is making the study, how long it will take before the study is completed and whether any action is proposed at the end of that, if anyone is found culpable?

Baroness Young

My Lords, I do not wish to sound unhelpful on this matter, but I think it would be right for me to say that it is not the practice to disclose any information about leak investigations. But I should like to say on the second part of the noble Lord's question, that the unauthorised disclosure of official information is regarded as a very serious breach of the Civil Service code of conduct. An offender would normally be dealt with under the Civil Service disciplinary procedures, the penalties under which include dismissal. My right honourable and learned friend the Attorney-General, or my noble and learned friend the Lord Advocate, as appropriate, would also consider whether to institute criminal proceedings.

Lord Balfour of Inchrye

My Lords, while I quite accept that the results of the investigation cannot be revealed, would it not be reassuring to the public if they were told, in the broadest terms, whether the investigation resulted in something positive?

Baroness Young

My Lords, something positive comes out of any investigation, if only an opportunity to review the procedures and to draw the attention of those involved to the importance of confidentiality and of the procedures which are adopted in the Civil Service. But I really do not think it would be right for any results of inquiries to be published in this way. As your Lordships will know, some of the serious matters—for example, the results of positive vetting—are, in fact, being looked at now by the Security Commission, which is a rather different issue, in regard to the cases which have been referred to it.

Lord Bruce of Donington

My Lords, in giving consideration to this matter, will the Government also investigate how it is that a couple of days before the Budget the details always seem to be in either the Observer or the Sunday Times? Would the noble Baroness agree that the coincidence of the particulars being practically identical points to a leakage or guidance from very high places?

Baroness Young

My Lords, I do not think it would be for me to decide at this stage what was, or was not, said before the Budget. I think that the Question which is down on the Order Paper refers to other matters, and I answered it as I believe was appropriate in the circumstances.