§ Q8. Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Prime Minister why she will not answer Questions relating to the activities of the security services.
§ The Prime MinisterIt has always been recognised that the nature of these activities requires them to be conducted in secrecy. Hence the longstanding practice of successive Governments, which I propose to continue, of not answering questions on security or intelligence matters.
§ Mr. Corbynasked the Prime Minister whether she has asked the Security Commission to investigate the extent of damage caused to the security services by the naming of their employees in several recent books.
§ The Prime MinisterI strongly deplore the publication of names of people alleged to be members of or associated with the security and intelligence services, which can only weaken the effectiveness of those services and harm the national interest, but I see no need for an investigation of this matter by the Security Commission.