§ Mr. Dubsasked the Attorney-General if any former members of MI5 have been charged with offences under the Official Secrets Act since 1979; and if he is considering any such prosecutions.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe only member or former member of the security service whose prosecution under the Official Secrets Acts I have authorised since 1979 is Michael Bettaney, who was tried and convicted in 1984 of offences under section 1 of the 1911 Act. I have not authorised the prosecution of any other member or former member of the service for an offence under the Acts but I understand that the Director of Public Prosecutions is currently looking into a case which may raise the possibility that such an offence has been committed. Until he has completed his consideration of it and has reported to me, I am not in a position to comment further on it.