§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what policy developments in relation to the release of information have occurred in the last 18 months.
§ Mr. HanleyThe Ministry of Defence is committed to the open Government initiative, and releases as much information into the public domain as possible without compromising security. Major examples include: the December 1992 announcement that, in future, service board of inquiry reports will be released to next of kin; the ongoing review of closed departmental records to assess suitability for release to the Public Records Office—some 2,500 have been released to date—and the implementation this August, in conjunction with members of the media, of a new defence advisory notices system, replacing the old D notice system. This year's Statement on the Defence Estimates, "Defending Our Future", also represents a significant step forward in increasing openness, giving unprecedented access to the defence planner's perspective and to the way in which force structures are determined.