§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Attorney-General how many cases of criminal proceedings have been instituted against civil servants in connection with alleged breaches of the Official Secrets Act since 1965; if he will give a breakdown of the Government Departments from which they emanated; and what proportion of them were subsequently acquitted.
§ The Attorney-GeneralSince 1965 prosecutions of civil servants for alleged offences contrary to the Official Secrets Act have been authorised in 17 cases. In one of these cases proceedings were later withdrawn. Thirteen defendants were convicted and two were acquitted. The other case is still pending. The employing departments of the civil servants were as follows:
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Department Number Cabinet Office 1 Home Office 2 Ministry of Aviation 2 Official Receiver 1 Ministry of Defence 2 Department of Health & Social Security 1 Foreign & Commonwealth Office 4 Central Office of Information 1
Department Number Security Service 1 GCHQ 1 GPO 1