HL Deb 12 January 1999 vol 596 cc75-6

2.42 p.m.

Lord Campbell of Croy asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they intend to replace or amend the Official Secrets Act.

The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Williams of Mostyn)

My Lords, it is less than 10 years since Parliament considered how to deal with matters which should properly be kept secret. The result was the Official Secrets Act 1989. We believe that the Act provides a sound basis for protecting sensitive official information, and we currently have no plans to replace or amend it.

Lord Campbell of Croy

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply which was certainly satisfactory to me. While there was general agreement in 1989 for deleting Section 2—the catch-all section—of the 1911 Act, are the Government now glad that the provisions in the present Act concerning former members of MI5 and MI6 are available to be invoked, although in Opposition the present Government Front Bench voted against them?

Lord Williams of Mostyn

My Lords, I was not on the Government Front Bench or the Opposition Front Bench in 1989; and of course circumstances change. After all, we are now in Government.

Lord Campbell of Croy

My Lords, it seems that I am to use a second barrel! Are those Members of the Liberal Democrats Party who are attending the Cabinet Committee, and who are not Privy Counsellors, expected to sign statements under the Official Secrets Act? It appears that they see more confidential information than Back-Benchers of the Labour Party in another place.

Lord Williams of Mostyn

My Lords, the Liberal Democrat Party is notoriously law abiding, and I am sure they know their duty.

Earl Baldwin of Bewdley

My Lords, will the Minister consider the position of the expert scientific committees? I refer, for example, to the Committee on the Safety of Medicines where the operation of the Official Secrets Act inhibits outside scrutiny.

Lord Williams of Mostyn

My Lords, I think that that is a different matter. The Question is directed to the Official Secrets Act 1989. Essentially that deals with matters which have to be kept secret: that is, national security and intelligence matters. Different provisions of the Act relate, for instance, to matters of defence, special investigations, and interception of communications; but none of those matters bites on the problem to which the noble Earl referred.