麻豆约拍

A secret file detailing official investigations into a senior British diplomat named in the House of Commons as a paedophile has been publicly released by the National Archives.

The document about Sir Peter Hayman, for the attention of the then prime minister Margaret Thatcher, was put together during late 1980 and early 1981, before Conservative MP Geoffrey Dickens used parliamentary privilege to name Hayman as a paedophile in 1981.

Former Cabinet Secretary Lord Armstrong said to Today: "It's a long time ago and that has come much to the fore. Clearly I was aware of it at the time but I was not concerned with the personal aspect of it, whether he should or should not be pursed, that was something for the police to consider. My concern was implications for national security and international relations".