Hansard

Project Zircon

Volume 111: debated on Thursday 5 March 1987

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Mr. Cash

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what detailed assurances have been given by Mr. Duncan Campbell in respect of the disclosure of sensitive information about project Zircon now that the injunction against Mr. Campbell has been discharged.

Mr. Renton

Mr. Duncan Campbell gave a binding undertaking to the High Court on 25 February that he would not, whether by himself, his servants or agents or otherwise, publish

  • (a) technical information or data, plans or diagrams, notes or sketches relating to the Zircon project;
  • (b) information on the intelligence, military, strategic or security arrangements or the purposes of the Zircon project;
  • (c) information about persons or organisations directly involved in the planning, implementation, design, direction, construction intended use or deployment of the Zircon project.
    • This undertaking does not prohibit

  • (a) bona fide reporting of or fair comment upon any public statements about the Zircon project made by Ministers or servants of the Crown or any other person authorised on behalf of the Crown to make such statements;
  • (b) comment on the publicity affecting the New Statesman article and associated BBC film about the Zircon project;
  • (c) political debate related to (a) or (b) above,

    • provided that no such report comment or debate may include or deploy material or information obtained as a consequence of any breach of confidence. In the light of this undertaking, the injunction granted to the Government against Mr. Campbell was no longer necessary.