§ Mrs. Clwydasked the Secretary of State for Defence on what date he was first made aware that his Department's police had identified Mr. Clive Ponting as the person suspected of having leaked official information from his Department in the summer of 1984; how the information was communicated to him; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HeseltineThe second permanent under-secretary of state informed me orally on the afternoon of 13 August 1984.
§ Mrs. Clwydasked the Secretary of State for Defence on what date he first was made aware that a prosecution was to be brought against Mr. Clive Ponting in respect of an alleged leak of official information from his Department; how this information was communicated to him; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HeseltineI was first informed officially, by means of a minute from my private office, on my return from a holiday in Cyprus on 28 August 1984. I was, however, aware that a prosecution was to be brought against Mr. Ponting from reports in the media while I was on holiday.