HC Deb 20 November 1986 vol 105 cc263-5W
Mr. Campbell-Savours

asked the Attorney-General whether he will prosecute Mr. Rupert Allason, alias Mr. Nigel West, for conspiracy with others to publish information on matters relating to national security.

The Attorney-General

I have agreed with the Director of Public Prosecutions that he will ask the Metropolitan police to investigate certain statements attributed in recent press articles to Mr. Nigel West concerning matters relating to the security services.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

asked the Attorney-General (1) whether he will prosecute Mr. Ronnie Symonds formerly of MI5 for passing information on matters relating to the security services to Mr. Rupert Allason alias Mr. Nigel West;

(2) whether he will prosecute Sir Martin Furnival Jones former head of MI5 for passing information to Mr. Rupert Allason alias Mr. Nigel West on matters relating to the security services;

(3) whether he will prosecute Mr. Neil Blair formerly of MI6 for passing information to Mr. Rupert Allason alias Mr. Nigel West on matters relating to the security services;

(4) whether he will prosecute Mr. Anthony Simkins former deputy director general of MI5 for passing information to Mr. Rupert Allason alias Mr. Nigel West relating to the security services.

The Attorney-General

I have asked the Director of Public Prosecutions to consider these questions in the light of the result of the police investigation referred to in my answer to the hon. Gentleman's earlier question.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

asked the Attorney-General (1) whether he proposes to take any steps against Colonel William Skarden in respect of information on MI5, MI6 or any other security agency or department he has given to publishers;

(2) whether he proposes to take any steps against Andrew King in respect of information on MI5, MI6 or any other security agency or department he has given to publishers;

(3) whether he proposes to take any steps against Colonel Leo Long in respect of information on MI5, MI6 or any other security agency or department he has given to publishers;

(4) whether he proposes to take any steps against Lord Victor Rothschild in respect of information on MI5, MI6 or any other security agency or department he has given to publishers;

(5) whether he proposes to take any steps against Lord Clanmorris in respect of information on MI5, MI6 or any other security agency or department he has given to publishers;

(6) whether he proposes to take any steps against Mr. T. A. R. Robertson in repect of information on MI5, MI6 or any other security agency or department he has given to publishers;

(7) whether he proposes to take any steps against Nigel Burgess in respect of information on MI5, MI6 or any other security agency or department he has given to publishers;

(8) whether he proposes to take any steps against Constance Burgess in respect of information on MI5, MI6 or any other security agency or department she has given to publishers;

(9) whether he proposes to take any steps against Russell Lee in respect of information on MI5, MI6 or any other security agency or department he has given to publishers;

(10) whether he proposes to take any steps against Christopher Haines in respect of information on MI5, MI6 or any other security agency or department he has given to publishers;

(11) whether he proposes to take any steps against William Luke in respect of information on MI5, MI6 or any other security agency or department he has given to publishers;

(12) whether he proposes to take any steps against Stephen Demonbray in respect of information on MI5, or any other security agency or department he has given to publishers;

(13) whether he proposes to take any steps against Lord Dacre in respect of information on MI5, MI6 or any other security agency or department he has given to publishers;

(14) whether he proposes to take any steps against George Carey Foster in respect of information on MI5, MI6 or any other security agency or department he has given to publishers;

(15) whether he proposes to take any steps against John Cairncross in respect of information on MI5, MI6 or any other security agency or department he has given to publishers;

(16) whether he proposes to take any steps against Malcolm Muggeridge in respect of information on MI5, MI6 or any other security agency or department he has given to publishers;

(17) whether he proposes to take any steps against Sir Robert McKenzie in respect of information on MI5, MI6 or any other security agency or department he has given to publishers;

(18) whether he proposes to take any steps against Sir Ashton Roskill in respect of information on MI5, MI6 or any other security agency or department he has given to publishers.

The Attorney-General

Former and present servants of the Crown are well aware that they may not make unauthorised disclosure of information acquired in their work. Formal letters underlining the duty of confidentiality have been sent to a number of former officials whom Mr. Penrose and Mr. Freeman purport to quote in their book "Conspiracy of Silence". I do not propose to identify the individuals concerned.