§ 36. Mr. William Shepherdasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what opinion has been formed as a result of examining the engines of M.I.G. 15 fighters as to what technical benefits have derived from our sale to the Russians of Nene engines.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Air (Mr. Nigel Birch)Examination of captured parts of M.I.G.15 engines has shown that M.I.G.15 fighters are powered by engines which are copies of the Nene. Some of these have been developed to give increased thrust. It is thus reasonable to suppose that the Russians have derived substantial benefits from the sale to them of the Nene engines.
§ Mr. ShepherdIs it not the fact from my hon. Friend's answer that the sale of these engines was not merely an act of foolishness but that it struck a real blow against the free world?
§ Mr. E. ShinwellIn view of the disclosure made by the Minister about the benefits alleged to have been derived from the sale of the Nene engine, will the Minister disclose the whole of the facts which have now been made available to the air experts?
§ Mr. ShinwellIf the hon. Gentleman will make inquiries and sees fit to make the necessary disclosures he will discover that his statement is a travesty of the facts.
§ Mr. BirchThe right hon. Gentleman will be aware that this answer has been most carefully vetted and prepared by the Ministry.
§ Mr. ShinwellIs the hon. Gentleman aware, and is the Minister of Defence who is now present aware, that the statements made to me by the intelligence experts are contrary to the statement made by the Minister?
§ Mr. WoodburnHas the hon. Gentleman communicated with the Ministry of Supply, which was the Department responsible, and is he aware that the experts of the Ministry of Supply stated that it was quite impossible that the Russians could learn from these engines anything that they did not already know?
§ Mr. SpeakerWe cannot debate this matter at this moment.