§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to introduce legislation to repeal the Official Secrets Act and replace it by a Freedom of Information Act in view of the resolution passed by the Prison Officers' Association at their annual conference held at Weymouth on Thursday 27th May; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. JohnThe Government propose to introduce a Bill to repeal and replace Section 2 of the Official Secrets Act 1911 as soon as possible but, as my right hon. Friend announced in his statement on 22nd November 1976, it cannot be in the current Session.