§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to allow members of the security services to plead a public interest defence in respect of any disclosure they may make. [70903]
§ The Prime MinisterThe Government naturally keep legislation under review in the light of changing circumstances. However, they have no plans to undertake a formal review of the Official Secrets Act 1911.
The introduction of a public interest defence would mean that an officer in the security and intelligence agencies would be able to disclose sensitive information. Only after the information was released, and any damage done, would anyone else be able to make judgment on whether, in fact, the disclosure was in the public interest. There are clearly difficulties with such a proposal.
Staff of the security and intelligence agencies have, since 1987, been able to raise any concerns they have with the Staff Counsellor.