§ 9. Mr. Beswickasked the Minister of Supply what public money is being spent by his Department on research and development of thermo-nuclear weapons and, in particular, on the fusion type or so-called hydrogen bomb.
§ Mr. SandysIn the interests of security, it has been the practice of successive Governments to refrain from publishing detailed information about the nature of our military research and development or about the expenditure incurred upon a particular class of work.
§ Mr. BeswickIs the Minister aware that I am not asking for any details or blueprints, or what amount of money is being spent? I simply want to know whether any of the taxpayers' money at all is being spent for this purpose. Would the Minister bear in mind that President Truman was able to announce, in 1951, that work of this nature was being carried out in the United States? Are we not, therefore, entitled to know?
§ Mr. SandysI think it is a very good rule not to make public how much money is spent on military research and development or what we spend it on.