HC Deb 03 July 1950 vol 477 cc1-2
1. Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

asked the Minister of Supply what steps are taken by him to secure that persons employed by him on work on or in connection with atomic research have not at any time been members of the Communist Party and of organisations associated therewith.

The Minister of Supply

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Epping (Mr. Nigel Davies) on 22nd May.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

As that reply merely amounted to a refusal to give the information asked for, can the right hon. Gentleman at least state that he takes steps to secure the exclusion from these vital plants of the people referred to in the Question?

Mr. Strauss

I said in that reply the other day that everybody who works on any secret defence project of the Government is carefully examined to make sure of his reliability.

Mr. Donner

Will the right hon. Gentleman, while he is about it, also have a look at the Communists destined for the Aldermaston atomic plant?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether he excludes under that procedure, on the grounds of unreliability, the people referred to in the Question?

Mr. Strauss

Everybody is considered from the point of view of possible unreliability. Their past is considered, their political associations—every aspect is considered.