§ 66 and 67. Mr. S. Silvermanasked the Attorney-General (1) on what date he first took under consideration the question of giving leave for the prosecution, under Section 1 of the Official Secrets Act, 1911, of Mr. Michael Randle and others, at whose trial he led for the prosecution; and on what date he gave this leave;
(2) why he gave leave for Mr. Michael Randle and others to be prosecuted under Section 1 of the Official Secrets Act, 1911, which deals with penalties for spying, in view of the fact that he told the court at the Old Bailey trial that no accusation or suggestion of spying had been, would be or could be made in respect of any of the accused.
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The Attorney-GeneralThese proceedings were instituted with my approval, but, as the accused were charged, not with offences against the Official Secrets Acts, but with common law offences of conspiracy to commit such offences, no question arose of my giving leave for the prosecution. Section 1 of the Official Secrets Act, 1911, is not limited to cases of espionage.