HC Deb 15 February 1990 vol 167 cc415-6W
Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he made, pursuant to the answer to the Adjournment debate of 12 February,Official Report, column 115, of the implications for his policy of his reading of "Who Framed Colin Wallace" by Paul Foot.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

None.

Mrs. Mahon

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will name the five Army officers whose names appear on the memorandum written by Colin Wallace in August 1973.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the undated and unsigned briefing notes which were reproduced in Paul Foot's book "Who Framed Colin Wallace", page 292. No Army officers' names appear on that document.

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what disciplinary action is to be taken against those officials who failed in their duty to provide accurate information to Ministers in relation to parliamentary questions about Operation Clockwork Orange and related matters on 10 January 1989.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

This is the subject of the current internal inquiry. It would be premature to speculate whether any form of disciplinary action will be appropriate.

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the reply to the Adjournment debate of 12 February,Official Report, column 118, by whom, and on whose authority, an additional job description was drafted to cover additional duties for Mr. Colin Wallace; and why they were not recorded in any subsequent approved and issued job description.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

I have nothing to add to the statement which I made on 30 January in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Arundel (Mr. Marshall),Official Report, 30 January 1990 c. 110–13. Such matters are within the purview of Mr. Calcutt's inquiry.

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the reply to the Adjournment debate of 12 February,Official Report, column 118, (1) by what process documents have recently come to light making reference to a project called Clockwork Orange; and if he will specify the day on which they first came to light;

(2) what factors led to the re-examination of files on the Colin Wallace affair, indicating that Mr. Wallace had undertaken unattributable covert briefings.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

I have nothing to add to the information given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in his statement to the House on 1 February and the subsequent exchanges,Official Report, 1 February 1990, columns 446–68, and in his letter of 2 February to the hon. Member for Brent, East (Mr. Livingstone). A copy of that letter is in the Library of the House.