File of material relating to SDP policy concerning freedom of information and the Official Secrets Act, including:

• Papers concerning the Campaign for Freedom of Information, including correspondence between Des Wilson and David Owen concerning the launch of the campaign, with draft statement by David Owen supporting the 1984 campaign, Sep-Oct 1983; campaign newsletters 1985-1990; transcript of speech made by David Owen at Freedom of Information Rally, London, 15 Dec 1988 etc
• Papers concerning campaign to reform of the Official Secrets Act, including programme and transcripts of statements made by David Owen and other MPs at launch of a campaign for the reform of the Act, Jul 1984; correspondence between Judith Cook and David Owen concerning her book on reform of section 2 of the Act, with copy of foreword provided for the book by David Owen, Aug-Nov 1984
• Papers concerning the introduction of bills to amend the Official Secrets Act including Private Member's bill introduced by Richard Shepherd, the Protection of Official Information Bill, and bill introduced by the Conservative Government, the Official Secrets Bill including letters from Richard Shepherd to David Owen asking for support for readings of the Protection of Official Information Bill in the House of Commons, Sep 1987, and the House of Lords, Feb 1988, with copies of David Owen's replies; copies of correspondence between Richard Shepherd and Margaret Thatcher and between Richard Shepherd and Home Secretary Douglas Hurd discussing his own bill and the Government's Official Secrets Bill Nov 1987-Jul 1988; Hansard extracts of Parliamentary debates on Protection of Official Information Bill, Jan 1988 and the Official Secrets Bill, Jan 1989 including statements made by David Owen; copy of Protection of Information Bill Oct 1987, and Official Secrets Bill, Nov 1988 both with MS annotations by David Owen; news cuttings, briefing notes and reference information.