§ 98. Mr. S. Silvermanasked the Attorney-General why, having granted his fiat to prosecute certain persons for conspiring to incite others to commit actions alleged to be breaches of Section 1 of the Official Secrets Act, 1911, he withheld that fiat in respect of those who actually committed the said acts and who were therefore only charged with breaches of the Highway Act, carrying a maximum penalty of a 40s. fine.
The Attorney-GeneralThe hon. Member is under a misapprehension. The Official Secrets Acts do not require my consent to be obtained for a prosecution for an offence at common law. The charges were of conspiracy to enter and conspiracy to incite persons to enter Wethersfield Airfield for a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the State. None of those concerned entered the airfield.
I did not consider that the public interest required the prosecution either on these charges or on charges under the Official Secrets Acts of those not actively engaged in the organisation of this operation.