§ Lord Roberts of Conwyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will now make available such information as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence have about "Operation Silver" which took place more than 50 years ago; and [HL2012]
Whether the 94-page document, dealing with British intelligence operations in South Eastern Europe which George Blake is alleged to have handed over to the Russians in the early 1950s is now available for public scrutiny. [HL2013]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal). May I repeat to the noble Lord a statement made in another place by my right honourable Friend the Foreign Secretary, on 12 February 1998, Official Report, col. 323.
"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 overwelmingly strong reason for this policy. When individuals or 176WA 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 risks of retribution against individuals can extend beyond a single generation."