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Legislation NN. Although we have stated this earlier in this Report, it bears repeating specifically in relation to legislation: the length of time it has taken to reform the Official Secrets Acts is unconscionable. Our predecessors were told that the Acts required updating as a matter of urgency in January 2019. Over three years later, we have yet to see the introduction of a Bill. National security legislation ought to be a priority for any UK Government—it is certainly not a matter to be kicked into the long grass by successive Governments.

OO. We recommend that HMG ensure that a Counter-State Threats Bill is enacted as a matter of urgency.