HL Deb 09 March 1987 vol 485 cc927-8WA
Lord Elton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What detailed assurances have been given by Mr. Duncan Campbell in respect of the disclosure of sensitive information about the project Zircon now that the injunction against Mr. Campbell has been discharged.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Young)

Mr. Duncan Campbell gave a binding undertaking to the High Court on 25th February that he would not whether by himself, his servants or agents or otherwise, publish:

  1. (a) technical information or data, plans or diagrams, notes or sketches relating to the Zircon project;
  2. (b) information on the intelligence, military, strategic or security arrangements or the purposes of the Zircon project;
  3. (c) information about persons or organisations directly involved in the planning, implementation, design, direction, construction intended use or deployment of the Zircon project.

This undertaking does not prohibit:

  1. (a) bona fide reporting of or fair comment upon any public statements about the Zircon project made by Ministers or servants of the Crown or any other person authorised on behalf of the Crown to make such statements;
  2. (b) comment on the publicity affecting the New Statesman article and associated BBC film about the Zircon project;
  3. (c) political debate related to (a) or (b) above
provided that no such report, comment or debate may include or deploy material or information obtained as a consequence of any breach of confidence. In the light of this undertaking, the injunction granted to the Government against Mr. Campbell was no longer necessary.