§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will release for public scrutiny the files held by MI6 relating to the Zinoviev letter. [24746]
§ Mr. Robin Cook[holding answer 26 January 1998]: The records of the Secret Intelligence Service are not released: they are retained under Section 3 (4) of the Public Records Act 1958. Having reviewed the arguments, I recognise that there is an overwhelmingly strong reason for this policy. When individuals or organisations co-operate with the service, they do so because an unshakeable commitment is given never to reveal their identities. This essential trust would be undermined by a perception that undertakings of confidentiality were honoured for only a limited duration. In many cases, the risk of retribution against individuals can extend beyond a single generation.
But I want to be as open as I can. The records of the SIS for the relevant period are incomplete, and offer an inconclusive picture on whether the Zinoviev letter was a forgery. But I have commissioned the FCO Historians to write a short memorandum, drawing on papers held by the SIS, as well as those in the FCO archives. When the memorandum has been prepared, I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy in the Libraries of the House.