§ Q31. Mr. Ridleyasked the Prime Minister when he expects the results of the inquiry he has set up into the leak of a secret document from Sir Douglas Wass to Sir Peter Carey to be available.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Head of the Home Civil Service has reported that, although absolute certainty cannot be guaranteed, there is very strong circumstantial evidence that the official document, classified as confidential, which found its way toThe Guardian newspaper was stolen in a burglary at the home of a civil servant. A number of valuable personal possessions were taken, among them a locked attache case which contained personal papers and a copy of the document in question—no other official papers are missing. There is no evidence that the purpose of the burglary was to steal the document. The police are continuing to investigate this burglary. The Department employing the civil servant concerned has carried out a review of the security arrangements concerning the handling of documents.