Top Secret Document Leaks Debate

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Department: Ministry of Defence

Top Secret Document Leaks

Theresa Villiers Excerpts
Tuesday 18th April 2023

(1 year, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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James Heappey Portrait James Heappey
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I note the concern of the hon. Gentleman and of my right hon. Friend the Member for New Forest East, the Chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee. We will ensure that any matters that can be exposed to them relating to this are exposed.

Theresa Villiers Portrait Theresa Villiers (Chipping Barnet) (Con)
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The whole House should welcome the great seriousness with which this is being taken by our Government and the Government of the United States. It is important for us to acknowledge that mass leaks of this kind are unjustified and serve only to help the interests of those terrorist groups and hostile states that wish us harm.

James Heappey Portrait James Heappey
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My right hon. Friend is absolutely right: these leaks, as unfortunate as they are, only benefit one group of people, and that is our competitors and adversaries in the world who mean us harm. Whatever heroic intentions those responsible for these leaks may think they have, they are wrong. They risk the safety of our armed forces, and they compromise the work that we and our allies are doing around the world to stand up to the challenge to the rules-based international order that we so strongly believe in.