§ 70. Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will allow open public access to information on matters of safety in respect of his Department's responsibilities.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonIt is not possible to permit open public access to information on matters of safety in the 617W Ministry of Defence because of the practicable impossibility of separating such information from classified information about the Department's activities and weapons systems. The Ministry of Defence is subject to the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and subordinate legislation, except where specific exemptions are given in the legislation. Even where such exemptions are given it is the Department's policy to observe the same standards of safety which are required of others.