HC Deb 18 January 1988 vol 125 cc479-81W
Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Attorney-General what account Her Majesty's Government take of the length of time which has elapsed since the original publication of material by current or former members of the security services in deciding whether(a) to seek injunctions restraining further publication of the same material in a different form or in a different medium and (b) to apply for an account of profits against the original author and publishers; and if he will make a statement.

The Attorney-General

The Government take such account of that factor as is appropriate in all the circumstances.

Mr. Mullin

To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the legal actions initiated by his Department since 1979 with a view to preventing in whole or in part the publication or broadcasting of newspapers articles or radio or television programmes.

The Attorney-General

Since 1979, with the Attorney-General acting in his capacity as nominal plaintiff on behalf of the Government or as a law enforcement officer representing the public interest, the following actions have been initiated, directed specifically to restraining in whole or part the publication of particular articles in newspapers or periodicals or the broadcasting of particular radio or television programmes:

  • Attorney-General v New Statesman (1986)
  • (Ambassador's valedictory dispatch)
  • Attorney-General v BBC (1987)
  • (My Country Right or Wrong)
  • Attorney-General v Channel 4 (1987)
  • (Court Report—The Birmingham 6)
  • Attorney-General v Observer and Sunday Times (1988)
  • (Cavendish)

On the other relevant actions against the media, I refer the hon. Member to my answer to his other question of today.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Attorney-General (1) whether he intends to prosecute under section 2 of the Official Secrets Act Mr. Rodney Dennys for revealing information which is officially secret to Mr. Anthony Cave Brown for use in his book "The Secret Servant"; and if he will make a statement;

(2) whether he intends to prosecute under section 2 of the Official Secrets Act Sir James Easton for revealing information which is officially secret to Mr. Anthony Cave Brown for use in his book "The Secret Servant"; and if he will make a statement;

(3) whether he intends to prosecute under section 2 of the Official Secrets Act Sir Patrick Reilly for revealing information which is officially secret to Mr. Anthony Cave Brown for use in his book "The Secret Servant"; and if he will make a statement;

(4) whether he intends to prosecute under section 2 of the Official Secrets Act Colonel Felix Cowgill for revealing information which is officially secret to Mr. Anthony Cave Brown for use in his book "The Secret Servant"; and if he will make a statement.

The Attorney-General

Any evidence submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions tending to establish that an offence under that section may have been committed will be considered.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Attorney-General whether he intends to seek an injunction against the publishers Michael Joseph to prevent the publication of the book "The Secret Servant" by Anthony Cave Brown; and if he will make a statement.

The Attorney-General

The matter is under consideration.

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