Mr. Davidson:

asked the Prime Minister whether he has fully considered the resolution forwarded to him by the Scottish Daily Newspaper Society, on 24th May, referring to the Official Secrets Act; and, if so, whether he has any statement to make?

I have considered the resolution referred to, and the attitude of His Majesty's Government towards the points raised in the resolution will be fully explained during the Debate on the Second Reading of the Official Secrets Bill. At the moment I can only say that the Government are unable to agree to any proposal for extending the scope of the Bill.

Mr. Davidson:

In view of the fact that the Prime Minister himself, in answer to questions in the House, definitely assured the House that the Bill would apply and extend only to questions of espionage, and in view of the fact that the Bill does nothing of the kind, will not the Prime Minister take steps to see to it that this is made clear in the Bill before it comes up for Second Reading?

The powers under Section 6 of the old Act have been confined in the Bill to cases of espionage.