§ Mr. Ridleyasked the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury of 20 March, if it is permissible under the Civil Service regulations for secret papers to be taken home by civil servants, even in locked attaché cases; and if he will set out the relevant rules.
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§ The Prime MinisterIt is permissible for classified documents to be taken home by civil servants, provided the appropriate safeguards, as set out in departmental security instructions, are followed. It is not the practice, however, to publish such instructions.
§ Mr. Ridleyasked the Prime Minister, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury of 20 March, what evidence he has that the purpose of the burglary was not to steal the document.
§ The Prime MinisterThe evidence is circumstantial.
§ Mr. Ridleyasked the Prime Minister, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury of 20 March, whether the civil servant concerned was entitled to he in possession of the secret document, later leaked to The Guardian newspaper.
§ The Prime MinisterYes.