To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the effect of the draft Official Secrets Act 1989 (Prescription) Order 1989 will enable prosecution of the officials listed in schedule 2 to the order under the Official Secrets Act 1989 for disclosing certain categories of information to hon. Members; and if he will make a statement.

The draft order establishes that the office holders listed in schedule 2 and some associated staff (all of whom at present fall within the scope of section 2 of the Official Secrets Act 1911) are to be treated as Crown servants for the purposes of the Official Secrets Act 1989. They will be liable to prosecution for unauthorised disclosures in the limited circumstances laid down in the Act.