Source: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1989/6
Timestamp: 2013-05-24 17:02:07
Document Index: 399146906

Matched Legal Cases: ['art.2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 4', 'art. 93', 'art. 3', 'art. 2', 'art. 7', 'art. 2', 'art. 7', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 7', 'art. 2', 'art. 21', 'art. 23', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 34', 'art. 2', 'art. 2']

Skip to main contentSkip to navigationlegislation.gov.ukThe National ArchivesHelpSite MapAccessibilityContact UsHomeAbout UsBrowse LegislationNew LegislationChanges to LegislationSearch LegislationSearch LegislationTitle: (or keywords in the title)Year:Number:Type:All Legislation (excluding draft)All Primary Legislation UK Public General Acts UK Local Acts Acts of the Scottish Parliament Acts of the National Assembly for Wales Measures of the National Assembly for Wales Church Measures Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly Acts of the Old Scottish Parliament Acts of the English Parliament Acts of the Old Irish Parliament Acts of the Parliament of Great Britain Northern Ireland Orders in Council Measures of the Northern Ireland Assembly Acts of the Northern Ireland ParliamentAll Secondary Legislation UK Statutory Instruments Wales Statutory Instruments Scottish Statutory Instruments Northern Ireland Statutory Rules Church Instruments UK Ministerial Orders UK Statutory Rules and OrdersAll Draft Legislation UK Draft Statutory Instruments Scottish Draft Statutory Instruments Northern Ireland Draft Statutory RulesAll Impact Assessments UK Impact AssessmentsSearchAdvanced SearchOfficial Secrets Act 1989You are here:1989 c. 6Whole ActTable of ContentsContentMore ResourcesPreviousNextPlain ViewPrint Options
What VersionLatest available (Revised)Original (As enacted)Advanced FeaturesShow Geographical Extent(e.g. England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland)Show Timeline of Changes Opening OptionsOpen whole ActOpen Act without schedulesOpen Schedules onlyChanges to legislation:There are outstanding changes not yet made by the legislation.gov.uk editorial team to Official Secrets Act 1989. Any changes that have already been made by the team appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.Changes to LegislationRevised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.E+W+S+N.I.Official Secrets Act 19891989 CHAPTER 6An Act to replace section 2 of the Official Secrets Act 1911 by provisions protecting more limited classes of official information.[11th May 1989]Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—
Annotations:Annotations are used to give authority for changes and other effects on the legislation you are viewing and to convey editorial information. They appear at the foot of the relevant provision or under the associated heading. Annotations are categorised by annotation type, such as F-notes for textual amendments and I-notes for commencement information (a full list can be found in the Editorial Practice Guide). Each annotation is identified by a sequential reference number. For F-notes, M-notes and X-notes, the number also appears in bold superscript at the relevant location in the text. All annotations contain links to the affecting legislation.Modifications etc. (not altering text)C1Act extended with modifications (30.06.1992) by S.I. 1992/1301, art.2.C2Act extended (1.12.1998) by 1998 c. 38, s. 53(4) (with ss. 139(2), 143(2)); S.I. 1998/2789, art. 2Act extended (1.12.1998) by 1998 c. 38, s. 90(7) (with ss. 139(2), 143(2)); S.I. 1998/2789, art. 2Act extended (1.12.1998) by 1998 c. 38, s. 92(7) (with ss. 139(2), 143(2)); S.I. 1998/2789, art. 2C3Act extended (1.2.1999) by 1998 c. 38, s. 111, Sch. 9 Pt. I para. 2(3) (with ss. 138(2), 143(2)); S.I. 1999/118, art. 2.Act extended (1.7.999) by 1993 c. 46, Sch. 1A para. 2(2) (as inserted (1.7.1999) by 1998 c. 38, s. 112, Sch. 10 para. 17 (with ss. 138(2), 143(2))); S.I. 1999/1290, art. 4.C4Act extended (1.3.1999) by S.I. 1998/3162 (N.I. 21), art. 93(5); S.R. 1999/81, art. 3.C5Act: transfer of certain functions (1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/672, art. 2, Sch. 11 Security and intelligence.E+W+S+N.I.(1)A person who is or has been—
Annotations:Annotations are used to give authority for changes and other effects on the legislation you are viewing and to convey editorial information. They appear at the foot of the relevant provision or under the associated heading. Annotations are categorised by annotation type, such as F-notes for textual amendments and I-notes for commencement information (a full list can be found in the Editorial Practice Guide). Each annotation is identified by a sequential reference number. For F-notes, M-notes and X-notes, the number also appears in bold superscript at the relevant location in the text. All annotations contain links to the affecting legislation.Modifications etc. (not altering text)C6S. 7(5): transfer of certain functions (1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/1750, arts. 1(2),2, Sch. 1 (with art. 7); S.I. 1998/3178, art. 2(1)8 Safeguarding of information.E+W+S+N.I.(1)Where a Crown servant or government contractor, by virtue of his position as such, has in his possession or under his control any document or other article which it would be an offence under any of the foregoing provisions of this Act for him to disclose without lawful authority he is guilty of an offence if—
Annotations:Annotations are used to give authority for changes and other effects on the legislation you are viewing and to convey editorial information. They appear at the foot of the relevant provision or under the associated heading. Annotations are categorised by annotation type, such as F-notes for textual amendments and I-notes for commencement information (a full list can be found in the Editorial Practice Guide). Each annotation is identified by a sequential reference number. For F-notes, M-notes and X-notes, the number also appears in bold superscript at the relevant location in the text. All annotations contain links to the affecting legislation.Modifications etc. (not altering text)C7S. 8(9): transfer of certain functions (1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/1750, arts. 1(1), 2, Sch. 1 (with art. 7); S.I. 1998/3178, art. 2(1)9 Prosecutions.E+W+S+N.I.(1)Subject to subsection (2) below, no prosecution for an offence under this Act shall be instituted in England and Wales or in Northern Ireland except by or with the consent of the Attorney General or, as the case may be, the Attorney General for Northern Ireland.
Annotations:Annotations are used to give authority for changes and other effects on the legislation you are viewing and to convey editorial information. They appear at the foot of the relevant provision or under the associated heading. Annotations are categorised by annotation type, such as F-notes for textual amendments and I-notes for commencement information (a full list can be found in the Editorial Practice Guide). Each annotation is identified by a sequential reference number. For F-notes, M-notes and X-notes, the number also appears in bold superscript at the relevant location in the text. All annotations contain links to the affecting legislation.Amendments (Textual)F6S. 12(1)(aa) inserted (6.5.1999) by 1998 c. 46, s. 125, Sch. 8 para. 26(2)F7S. 12(1)(b) repealed (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, ss. 99, 100(2), Sch. 13 para. 9(2), Sch. 15 (with s. 95); S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.F8Words in s. 12(1)(d) substituted (1.4.1997) by 1996 c. 14, s. 131(1), Sch. 10 para. 22 (with s. 72(5)); S.I. 1997/305, art. 2F9Words in s. 12(1)(e) substituted (4.11.2001) by 2000 c. 32, s. 74, Sch. 6 para. 9; S.R. 2001/396, art. 2, Sch.F10Words in s. 12(1)(e) inserted (1.4.1998) by 1997 c. 50, s. 134(1), Sch. 9 para. 62; S.I. 1998/354, art. 2(2)(ay)F11Words in s. 12(2)(a) inserted (6.5.1999) by 1998 c. 46, s. 125, Sch. 8 para. 26(3)F12S. 12(2)(aa) inserted (1.4.1999) by 1998 c. 38, s. 125, Sch. 12 para. 30 (with ss. 138(2), 143(2)); S.I. 1999/782, art. 2.F13S. 12(4) inserted (6.5.1999) by 1998 c. 46, s. 125, Sch. 8 para. 26(4)F14S. 12(5) inserted (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, s. 99, Sch. 13 para. 9(3) (with s. 95); S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.Modifications etc. (not altering text)C8S. 12: transfer of certain functions (1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/1750, arts. 1(1), 2, Sch. (with art. 7); S.I. 1998/3178, art. 2(1)Marginal CitationsM61973 c. 36. 13 Other interpretation provisions.E+W+S+N.I.(1)In this Act—
Annotations:Annotations are used to give authority for changes and other effects on the legislation you are viewing and to convey editorial information. They appear at the foot of the relevant provision or under the associated heading. Annotations are categorised by annotation type, such as F-notes for textual amendments and I-notes for commencement information (a full list can be found in the Editorial Practice Guide). Each annotation is identified by a sequential reference number. For F-notes, M-notes and X-notes, the number also appears in bold superscript at the relevant location in the text. All annotations contain links to the affecting legislation.Modifications etc. (not altering text)C9S. 16(6) power of appointment conferred by s. 16(6) fully exercised: 1.3.1990 appointed day by S.I. 1990/199 SCHEDULESSection 16(3).SCHEDULE 1E+W+S+N.I. Consequential Amendments1In each of the following provisions—E+W+S+N.I.(a)section 11(2)(b) of the M7Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967;F15(b)section 11(2)(b) of the Parliamentary Commissioner Act (Northern Ireland) 1969;F16(c)section 12(2)(b) of the Commissioner for Complaints Act (Northern Ireland) 1969;F17(d). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(e)section 32(2)(b) of the M8Local Government Act 1974;[F18(f)section 30(2)(b) of the M9Local Government (Scotland) Act 1975;]F19(g)paragraph 16(4)(b)(ii) of Schedule 3 to the M10Social Security Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1975;F20(h). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(j)regulation 35(2)(a)(ii) of the M11Occupational Pension Schemes (Contracting out) Regulations 1984;(k)regulation 32(2)(a)(ii) of the M12Occupational Pension Schemes (Contracting-out) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1985,for the words “the Official Secrets Acts 1911 to 1939” there shall be substituted the words “ the Official Secrets Acts 1911 to 1989 ”.
Annotations:Annotations are used to give authority for changes and other effects on the legislation you are viewing and to convey editorial information. They appear at the foot of the relevant provision or under the associated heading. Annotations are categorised by annotation type, such as F-notes for textual amendments and I-notes for commencement information (a full list can be found in the Editorial Practice Guide). Each annotation is identified by a sequential reference number. For F-notes, M-notes and X-notes, the number also appears in bold superscript at the relevant location in the text. All annotations contain links to the affecting legislation.Amendments (Textual)F15Sch. 1 para. 1(b) repealed (N.I.) (16.7.1996) by S.I. 1996/1298 (N.I. 8), art. 21(2), Sch. 6F16Sch. 1 para. 1(c) repealed (N.I.) (16.7.1996) by S.I. 1996/1297 (N.I. 7), art. 23(2), Sch. 5F17Sch. 1 para. 1(d) repealed (7.2.1994) by 1993 c. 48, s. 188, Sch. 5 Pt. I (with s. 6(8)); S.I. 1994/86, art. 2F18Sch. 1 para. 1(f) repealed (S.) (23.10.2002) by 2002 asp 11, s. 25, Sch. 6 para. 12; S.S.I. 2002/467, art. 2F19Sch. 1 para. 1(g) repealed (N.I.) (7.2.1994) by 1993 c. 49, ss. 182, 186(2), Sch. 4 Pt. I; S.R. 1994/17, art. 2F20Sch. 1 para. 1(h) repealed (5.2.1994) by 1993 c. 46, ss. 20(2), 22(4) Sch. 3 (with s. 3(4))..Marginal CitationsM71967 c. 13. M81974 c. 7. M91975 c. 30. M10S.I. 1975/1503 (N.I. 15). M11S.I. 1984/380 M12S.R. 1985 No. 259. [F212In section 22(6) of the M13Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978 for the words “the Official Secrets Acts 1911 and 1920” there shall be substituted the words “the Official Secrets Acts 1911 to 1989”.]E+W+S+N.I.Annotations:Annotations are used to give authority for changes and other effects on the legislation you are viewing and to convey editorial information. They appear at the foot of the relevant provision or under the associated heading. Annotations are categorised by annotation type, such as F-notes for textual amendments and I-notes for commencement information (a full list can be found in the Editorial Practice Guide). Each annotation is identified by a sequential reference number. For F-notes, M-notes and X-notes, the number also appears in bold superscript at the relevant location in the text. All annotations contain links to the affecting legislation.Amendments (Textual)F21Sch. 1 para. 2 repealed (N.I.) by Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991 (c. 24, SIF 39:1), s. 70(4), Sch. 8 Pt. I.Marginal CitationsM131978 c. 5. F223. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E+W+S+N.I.Annotations:Annotations are used to give authority for changes and other effects on the legislation you are viewing and to convey editorial information. They appear at the foot of the relevant provision or under the associated heading. Annotations are categorised by annotation type, such as F-notes for textual amendments and I-notes for commencement information (a full list can be found in the Editorial Practice Guide). Each annotation is identified by a sequential reference number. For F-notes, M-notes and X-notes, the number also appears in bold superscript at the relevant location in the text. All annotations contain links to the affecting legislation.Amendments (Textual)F22Sch. 1 para. 3 repealed (2.10.2000) by 2000 c. 23, s. 82(2), Sch. 5 (with s. 82(3)); S.I. 2000/2543, art. 34Any provision in a public service pension scheme (within the meaning of the [F23Pension Schemes Act 1993] or the [F24Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993] which has effect in relation to conviction of an offence under the Official Secrets Acts 1911 to 1939 shall be construed as if the reference to such an offence included a reference to an offence under this Act.
Annotations:Annotations are used to give authority for changes and other effects on the legislation you are viewing and to convey editorial information. They appear at the foot of the relevant provision or under the associated heading. Annotations are categorised by annotation type, such as F-notes for textual amendments and I-notes for commencement information (a full list can be found in the Editorial Practice Guide). Each annotation is identified by a sequential reference number. For F-notes, M-notes and X-notes, the number also appears in bold superscript at the relevant location in the text. All annotations contain links to the affecting legislation.Amendments (Textual)F23Words in Sch. 1 para. 4 substituted (7.2.1994) by 1993 c. 48, ss. 190, 193(2), Sch. 8 para.21 (with s. 6(8)); S.I. 1994/86, art. 2F24Words in Sch. 1 para. 4 substituted (N.I.) (7.2.1994) by 1993 c. 49, ss. 184, 186(2), Sch. 7 para.23; S.R. 1994/17, art. 2Section 16(4).SCHEDULE 2E+W+S+N.I. Repeals and Revocation1911 c. 28.The Official Secrets Act 1911.Section 2.In section 12, in the paragraph beginning “Expressions referring”, the words “or receiving” (in both places where they occur) and “or received”.1920 c. 75.The Official Secrets Act 1920.Section 9(1).In Schedule 1, the amend-ments of section 2 of the Official Secrets Act 1911.1946 c. 27.The Bank of England Act 1946.Section 4(4) and (5).1954 c. 32.The Atomic Energy Authority Act 1954.In Schedule 3, the words from “For the purposes of section 2 of the Official Secrets Act 1911” to “shall be deemed to bea contract with Her Majesty”.1965 c. 57.The Nuclear Installations Act 1965.In Schedule 1, paragraph 2.1967 c. 13.The Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967.Section 11(1).1969 c. 48.The Post Office Act 1969.In Schedule 4, in paragraph 21(1), the words from the beginning to “Her Majesty; and”.1969 c. 10 (N.I.).The Parliamentary Commissioner Act (Northern Ireland) 1969.Section 11(1).1969 c. 25 (N.I.).The Commissioner for Complaints Act (Northern Ireland) 1969.Section 12(1).1970 c. 46.The Radiological Protection Act 1970.Sections 2(8) and 4(7).1971 c. 11.The Atomic Energy Authority Act 1971.In section 19(1) the words “2 and”.In the Schedule, paragraph 2.1977 c. 49.The National Health Service Act 1977.In Schedule 13, paragraph 15.1982 c. 16.The Civil Aviation Act 1982.Section 18(1).1983 c. 44.The National Audit Act 1983.In section 3(5) the words “Except for the purposes of section 2 of the Official Secrets Act 1911 (wrongful communication of information)”.1984 c. 12.The Telecommunications Act 1984.In Schedule 4, paragraph 12(1).1984 c. 35.The Data Protection Act 1984.Section 17(2) and (3).In Schedule 2, in paragraph 1(2) the words “Except as provided in section 17(2) of this Act”.1985 c. 56.The Interception of Communications Act 1985.In section 9(4)(b) the words “or 2”.S.I. 1987/460 (N.I. 5).The Audit (Northern Ireland) Order 1987.In Schedule 1, in paragraph 3(3) the words “Except for the purposes of section 2 of the Official Secrets Act 1911 (wrongful communication of information)”.PreviousNextBack to topOptions/HelpPrint OptionsPrint The Whole ActPDF The Whole ActWeb page The Whole ActLegislation is available in different versions:Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.Original (As Enacted or Made):The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.See additional information alongside the contentGeographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.Opening OptionsDifferent options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at onceMore ResourcesAccess essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copylists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation itemconfers power and blanket amendment detailsall formats of all associated documentscorrection slipslinks to related legislation and further information resources© Crown copyrightYou may use and re-use the information featured on this website (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence