Originally unfiled group of material relating to the intelligence and security services, and issues of breaches of national security with particular reference to the case surrounding Peter Wright's book disclosing activities of MI5, Spycatcher, and the Government's attempt to ban its publication, 1986-1988, including:

• Letter from writers' agent Michael Sissons to David Owen discussing the publication of books about the intelligence services and the need for a Freedom of Information Act, 25 Nov 1986, with David Own's reply
• Copy of David Owen's letter to Margaret Thatcher, Dec 1986, asking about the circumstances surrounding the Government's decision on whether to take legal action over Chapman Pincher's book, Their Trade is Treachery in 1981, [to which Peter Wright had contributed sensitive information]with Margaret Thatcher's reply; letters from Chapman Pincher to David Owen discussing the Wright case, Dec 1987-Jan 1988 and copy of David Owen's letter to the Times concerning the Government's actions surrounding the publication of Pincher's book in 1981, 5 Jan 1988
• Copies of David Owen's letters to Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Sir Geoffrey Howe and Secretary of State for the Home Department Douglas Hurd proposing a need for a secrecy agreement for employees of MI5 similar to that used in the CIA, with replies, Oct-Nov 1987, and letter from Anthony Lester analysing Geoffrey Howe's reply
• Material concerning recommendation made by the Security Commission in 1983 to introduce random searches of staff at Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), including copy of David Owen's letter to Margaret Thatcher asking why the recommendation had not been implemented, 13 Nov 1986; with Margaret Thatcher's reply, 4 Dec 1986,and press statement of David Owen commenting on the reply, 8 Dec 1986; press statement by David Owen calling for more vigorous security procedure for staff in GCHQ and other Government establishments, 23 Apr 1987
• Inner file of material concerning Geoffrey Prime found guilty of espionage activities during his time as employee at GCHQ including Hansard extracts concerning the case, Jul 1982; David Owen's MS draft of motion to adjourn the House of Commons to discuss the procedure followed by the Prime Ministers in referring the case to the Security Commission, copy of article by David Owen for the Daily Mail discussing implications of the Prime case, Nov 1982
• Copies of Hansard extracts of Parliamentary debates on issues relating to the security services [1977-1982]
• Copied press cuttings and briefing information on general issues relating to the security services, the Interception of Communications Act, 1985 and the Peter Wright case.