HL Deb 20 May 1999 vol 601 cc45-6WA
Lord Stoddart of Swindon

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 26 April (WA 1), why they have not investigated the assertion by Mr. Hugo Young that he had received a copy of the secret text of the Foreign and Commonwealth's own history of negotiations on United Kingdom entry to the European Economic Community; and whether they will now make the secret text available to the public. [HL2294]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

The text referred to is theReport on the Negotiations for entry into the European Economic Community written in 1972 by Sir Con O'Neill. It was scheduled for public release in 2003 under the 30-year rule. However, a decision was taken in 1998 as part of a new open government initiative to accelerate the release and publication of FCO internal histories. Sir Con O'Neill's report fell into this category and preparations were set in hand for its declassification and release before the publication of Mr. Young's book. It is expected to be published early next year.

It is not practicable to investigate every alleged unauthorised disclosure of official documents. Leak investigations are carried out when the leak results in damage to the national interest. Since the decision to declassify the text prior to its early release pre-dated the publication of Mr. Young's book, it was decided that an investigation was not justified.