HC Deb 28 October 1985 vol 84 cc348-9W
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what basis, and for what reasons, members of the staff of the British Broadcasting Corporation are positively vetted by the security services; whether the security services advise the British Broadcasting Corporation as to which members of the corporation's staff should undergo such vetting; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Giles Shaw

The positive vetting system is used to investigate the reliability of those who are expected to have regular access to highly classified information. It takes place with the knowledge and consent of those concerned. It is applied only to a very small number of staff of the BBC in accordance with the procedures and criteria described in the Government's "Statement on the Recommendations of the Security Commission" (Cmnd. 8540, May 1982).