HC Deb 01 February 2000 vol 343 c543W
Mr. Quinn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the compensation schemes for the 14 trade unionists dismissed from GCHQ. [108189]

Mr. Robin Cook

I can announce that I have today laid before Parliament the two schemes that will put into effect the compensation of the 14 former GCHQ employees for their loss of pension rights. Details of the two schemes will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Mr. Tyler

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make arrangements for the hon. Member for North Cornwall to visit GCHQ Morwenstow and receive a briefing on that station's purpose and performance. [107866]

Mr. Robin Cook

GCHQ would be delighted to make arrangements for the hon. Member, as constituency MP, to visit its outstation at Morwenstow to receive an unclassified briefing and to meet members of staff there.

Details of the station's purpose and performance are classified. The hon. Member will be aware that, as part of GCHQ, the Morwenstow outstation is subject to the scrutiny of the Intelligence and Security Committee, the members of which have access to classified material concerning GCHQ and its outstations under the Intelligence Services Act 1994.