§ Mr. Leeasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have taken place during the last five years under the provisions of the Official Secrets Act; how many of these prosecutions took place under Section 1 of the Act; and how many persons prosecuted were acquitted.
§ Mr. JohnIn the five years 1972 to 1976, 11 persons were proceeded against in England and Wales for offences under the Official Secrets Acts 1911 and 1920, five of whom were not convicted of any such offence. Six of the 11 were charged under Section 1 of the 1911 Act, of whom three were not convicted of a Section 1 offence. Figures for 1977 are not yet available.