COSMIC Security Classification

HC Deb 30 April 2001 vol 367 c447W

Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the types of information covered by the COSMIC security classification. [159675]

Mr. Spellar

The term COSMIC is not a classification but a qualifying marking used by NATO. It signifies that the information is the property of NATO and remains the property of the originator and may not be passed outside NATO without the originator's consent. This qualifying marking is used only with top secret information, the unauthorised disclosure of which would result in exceptionally grave damage to NATO. "COSMIC top secret" is the highest classification marking in NATO and it is equivalent to "UK top secret".