GCHQ union ban - Geoffrey Howe Commons statement

Title

GCHQ union ban - Geoffrey Howe Commons statement

Genre

Interview; Speech; Special

TX Date

8 Feb 1984

Year of production

1984

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Duration

00:02:56

Description

UK Foreign Secretary Sir Geoffrey Howe defends his trade union ban on members of the workforce at GCHQ to an all-party committee of MPs. He explains the long-standing convention that the Government does not answer questions in Parliament on matters of security. The Government considers it inappropriate for serving members of the security and intelligence agencies to give evidence to select committees on matters of security and intelligence. There are questions from Labour MP John Gilbert (regarding matters of security) and Conservative MP Sir John Gorst.

Contributors

Geoffrey Howe; John Gorst; John Gilbert

Keywords

Politics; Trade unions; Government; Parliament; Conservative Party; Civil service; Civil servants; State security; GCHQ; Committees; Public servants; Cheltenham

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