The beauty of the Official Secrets Act was that everybody was bound by it, regardless whether they had "signed" it or not. The point about signing was that if you were ever accused of breaching the OSA, you would not be able to plead in mitigation that you didn't know about it. And the first rule about being vetted for security clearance is ... you never tell people you had clearance.
The day I signed I was told I'd never need to do it again because it was for life and even if things I'd been working on were out in the open at a later date I still couldn't discuss them.
Very true, but oddly enough I've had to sign it twice. When I moved roles I said I'd already signed it but the answer was 'Oh well, you can sign it again now...' So what level were you cleared to then Pete :wink:
I had to sign the Official Secrets act .. And other stuff A Caramac you say?? Really ??? No seriously I had to sign it for USAFE.