§ 52. Sir G. Nabarroasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the warning issued to his depart mental officials in February, 1969, drawing their attention to Section 2 of the Official Secrets Act, 1911, and reminding them that it is an offence to divulge any information to an unauthorised person, or to retain without permission any documents no longer needed for a person's official duties.
§ Mr. CallaghanYes. A reminder to the staff is issued every year. This year it was put out on 30th January. Below is the text of the notice:—
"All staff are reminded that the provisions of the Official Secrets Acts, 1911–1939 apply to them and cover any official information, whether classified or not, to which they may have access. Attention is especially drawn to Section 2 of the Official Secrets Act, 1911. Under this Section it is an offence to divulge any information to an unauthorised person or to retain, without permission, any documents which are no longer needed for a person's official duties. The full details of this Section of the Act are set out on the declaration form which every civil servant signs on entering the Service.
2. Staff are also reminded that, on transfer from one post to another in the Service, they must surrender any documents etc. which have not been issued for their personal retention."