§ Sir W. Smithersasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been directed to pages 31 and the following in the recent Report of the Royal. Commission in Canada which revealed, amongst other things, attempts by a foreign power to obtain military secrets in Britain; what steps have been, and are being, taken to combat these activities in Britain; and if he will make a statement as to their extent in this country.
§ Mr. EdeIt would not be in the public interest to disclose either the extent of our information about espionage in this country or the nature of the steps taken to combat it. The hon. Member will no doubt recall that Dr. Alan Nunn May, who is mentioned in the section of the Report to which he refers, was prosecuted last year and convicted of an offence against the Official Secrets Acts