§ Mr. Noel-Bakerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason information in his possession regarding espionage by Communists during the Second World War is still kept secret; and whether he will now release for publication a full report on the illegal activities of Douglas Frank Springhall, formerly National Organiser of the Communist Party, who was convicted on 28th July, 1943.
§ Sir D. Maxwell FyfeAny general disclosure of information about espionage activities in the Second World War would be contrary to the public interest, and I am not prepared to single out for publication information about such activities by the adherents of one political group. The essential facts of the offences of which Douglas Frank Springhall was convicted were published on the authority of the court at the time.