Clause 3
Digital Switchover (Disclosure of Information) Bill
12:30 pm
Edward Vaizey (Shadow Minister (Arts), Culture, Media & Sport; Wantage, Conservative)
I am sure that, if a Conservative Government introduced that legislation, those issues were raised by the party of which the former chair of Liberty is a member. Will the Minister confirm that there is no reverse burden of proof under the official secrets Acts? It is up to the prosecution to prove the elements of the offence. It is extremely odd that, if a Royal Navy commander were to leave the details of the Trident nuclear deterrent on the back seat of his car and they were stolen, the prosecution would have to prove that he was reckless; whereas if an employee of an aerial erection company left two addresses on the back seat of his car and they were stolen, he would be guilty of an offence.