HC Deb 27 May 1976 vol 912 cc305-6W
Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Members of Parliament have been refused security clearance in each year since 1946; and at what level this security clearance was refused.

Mr. Roy Jenkins

Members of Parliament are as such not subject to security clearance. If an hon. Member is appointed a Minister the arrangements described in paragraph 42 of the Security Commission's Report of July 1973 (Cmnd. 5367) apply. If for any reason it is desired to give an hon. Member access to classified information the Minister concerned is responsible for satisfying himself that there are no security objections to make the information available in confidence to that hon. Member. Figures are not kept of the number of hon. Members from whom access of classified information has been withheld on security grounds.