§ Mr. Richard ShepherdTo ask the Prime Minister, if, pursuant to her oral answer of 12 November,Official Report, column 555, she will specify those aspects of the proposals by the hon. Member for Aldridge-Brownhills for reform of the Official Secrets Act which do not meet her criteria for legislation to replace section 2 of that Act, namely, effectiveness, enforceability and reasonableness; and if she will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterIn the answer to which my hon. Friend refers, I said that the Government have work in hand to find provisions to replace section 2 of the Official Secrets Act 1911. If in the light of that work we decide to bring forward further proposals for reform, we shall announce our intentions. At this stage, while the work continues, it would not be sensible to comment on detailed issues.