Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether all requests for information on files covered by the Official Secrets Act 1989 receive a standard response or are considered on a case by case basis.

Neither HMG files nor information generally is classified under the Official Secrets Act; rather the Act creates an offence for the unauthorised disclosure of information that is defined as being damaging under it. All requests for information are considered under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.