HC Deb 16 March 2000 vol 346 cc265-6W
Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the compatibility of current legislation relating to official secrets with the European Convention on Human Rights; and if he will make a statement. [114975]

Mr. Straw

Reviewing legislation in the light of the Convention is a continuous process. I am aware that the issue of the compatibility of section 1(1) of the Official Secrets Act 1989 with the European Convention on Human Rights has recently been before the Judicial Committee of the House of Lords in the case of Blake v. Attorney-General and judgment is awaited.