§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister for the Civil Service whether, in view of the fact that some of the most junior of employees in Government establishments where there is no possibility of their being in any way connected with State security or having access to secret information have to sign the Official Secrets Act, he will arrange for all Members of Parliament, including Ministers, to sign this declaration in future.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisThere are no plans at present to extend the use of Official Secrets Act declaration forms. The use made in the Civil Service of these forms is subject to central rules and Departments have discretion as to whether or not particular junior employees should be asked to sign a declaration.
Appropriate arrangements already exist for hon. Members who are likely to have access to official information not publicly available, namely Ministers and members of Select Committees. A simplied form of declaration is signed by all Ministers on first appointment, whilst as members of Select Committees, hon. Members receive suitable guidance on these matters from Clerks of Committees.