§ Mr. Shersbyasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the administrative procedure for issuing D notices to the Press; and what is the appropriate ministerial authority for issuing such notices.
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§ Mr. MasonD Notices may be issued only on the authority of the Defence, Press and Broadcasting Committee which is composed of representatives of Press and broadcasting organisations, who form the majority of the Committee, and officials from Government Departments concerned with defence and national security. The D Notice system is entirely voluntary.
D Notices are held by the editors of newspapers or their nominees and by TV and broadcasting organisations, and the Secretary of the Defence, Press and Broadcasting Committee is available at all times to advise whether a D Notice applies in a particular case.