§ 46. Major Legge-Bourkeasked the Minister of Defence if he will make a statement about the progress of the British Commonwealth Conference on Scientific Defence.
§ Mr. AlexanderI would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the information on this subject given in paragraph 50 of the Statement Relating to Defence, 1948 (Cmd. 7327), and to my statement in the House on 1st March.
§ Major Legge-BourkeIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that as long ago as Christmas a report on this conference appeared in the Press in Pakistan? Would he bear in mind that when a conference or a document is supposed to be secret, not only should the proceedings at the conference and the contents of the document be secret, but also their very existence? Will he look into the leakage that, in fact, occurred?
§ Mr. AlexanderI have not heard of this particular incident the hon. and gallant Gentleman has brought to my notice. Pakistan was not a party to this particular conference. I shall certainly make inquiries on the question he has raised.