Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what his Department's policy is on responding to parliamentary questions where the subject file or letter is within the scope of the Official Secrets Act 1989.

The Department for Education responds to parliamentary questions in accordance with Cabinet Office guidance, available at:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/drafting-answers-to-parliamentary-questions-guidance

The guidance makes clear that Ministers should be as open as possible with Parliament and the public and only withhold information where its disclosure would not be in the public interest. Such public interest would be determined with the relevant legislation in mind.