Security & intelligence: in brief (1)
01 January 1993
Home Office search records: The Home Office conducted a comprehensive search of its immigration and naturalisation files for evidence that Bill Clinton, US Presidential candidate, had attempted to avoid the Vietnam draft. A Home Office official said it was carried out in response to press inquiries - such inquiries are normally covered by the ruling that individual cases cannot be discussed. Clinton's campaign office was said to be dismissive of the Home Office's explanation as it was known that two Conservative Party election strategists were advising the Bush campaign. Observer, 6.12.92; Independent, 5.12.92.
GCHQ staff federation not a trade union: The Employment Appeal Tribunal ruled on 10 December 1992 that the GCHQ staff federation is not an independent trade union under Section 5 of the 1992 Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act. Section 5 states that a trade union must not be under the domination or control of an employer and is not liable to interference by them The GCHQ staff federation was set up in 1985 after membership of recognised trade unions was banned in 1984. Times 16.12.92.
D-Notice Secretary: Rear Admiral D M Pulvertaft has taken over from Rear Admiral Bill Higgins as the Secretary to the D-Notice Committee. His deputy is Commander F N Ponsonby. Amendment circulated, 16.11.92.
Fettesgate: new guidelines: the Scottish Office have issued a set of guidelines to be followed by police in Scotland using telephone "metering" to log numbers and the duration of calls. This follows the revelation that the Lothian and Borders police force had monitored calls from 78 people and organisations by this method and that the authorisation needed varied between different Scottish police forces. The guidelines say that it should only be used when investigating "very serious crime" and that authorisation had to be made by an Assistant Chief Constable. The Scottish Secretary of State said however that no change was needed in the law, thus excluding "metering" from the provisions of the Interception of Communication Act 1985. In December charges against a Scotland on Sunday reporter, Ron McKay, of handling stolen goods was dropped - the paper had published details of the files and "metering" removed in a break- in to the force's HQ. Police Review, 4.12.92; Guardian 23.12.92 (see Statewatch vol 2 nos 5 & 6).
MI5 accountability: the Home Affairs Select Committee has proposed that the Security Service, MI5, should be made accountable to it for its finance and policies but not its operations. However, it is thought that the government will set up a special committee made up of Privy Councillors attached to the Cabinet Office not to parliament. Accountability of the Security Service, Home Affairs Committee, HC 265 HMSO £10.00 pp21.