148.Section 101 provides a power to the Secretary of State to direct the Commission or a licence holder as he considers appropriate if he considers it expedient to do so either in the interest of national security or in order to discharge an international obligation; to meet the object of an international organisation of which the Government is a member or agreement to which they are party; or to enable the Government to become a member of such an organisation or party to such an agreement. The Directions should generally be laid before Parliament but there are exceptions to this on specified grounds. It is an offence to contravene a direction or, in certain circumstances, to disclose it.
Commentary on Sections Part VII Miscellaneous and Supplementary Section 101: Directions in interests of national security etc.