§ 52. Mr. John D. Grantasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why, in appointing Mr. John Cope to his Private Office to assist in the political aspects of his work and, in particular, to maintain links with the Conservative Party organisation outside Parliament, he has issued an instruction that in order to fulfil this commitment Mr. Cope should have full access to departmental meetings and officials and to official papers, including those containing secret or highly confidential information.
§ Mr. John DaviesI issued a notice to my senior staff about Mr. Cope's appointment to inform them of the nature of his duties and to let them know that he was an authorised person to whom official information could be disclosed. Mr. Cope is, of course, bound by the Official Secrets Acts in the same way as other people, whether civil servants or not, to whom official information is entrusted.