HC Deb 11 December 1963 vol 686 cc375-6
8. Mr. Cronin

asked the Minister of Defence what security arrangements are put in hand when communications are made to the Press with regard to new equipment supplied to the three Services.

Mr. Thorneycroft

My instructions are that it should be given the maximum of information consistent with not disclosing knowledge which might be useful to an enemy.

Mr. Cronin

Will the Minister explain why photographs and hitherto secret details of the TSR2 were released to the Press and to potential enemies of this country? Is it not a fact that anyone with an elementary knowledge of aerodynamics could calculate the full operational performance of the TSR2 from this information? Is this not an occasion when the Government have dangerously compromised the security of a new aircraft for the purpose of party advantage?

Mr. Thorneycroft

I do not think so. Those details were released because it was not thought that they would really be of value to an enemy. One can exaggerate the importance of denying information, most of which is published in every technical journal here and in America, and pretending that it is somehow a matter of security.

Mr. Cronin

We cannot let the right hon. Gentleman get away with this. Is he not aware that about a dozen Members, from both sides of the House, who were specially cleared for security were not permitted to sketch even a model of the TSR2 because of the enormous advantage to a potential enemy of obtaining such information?

Mr. Thorneycroft

It depends when they asked for it. If the hon. Member were to go along now, I should be happy to give him a model if it is of any help to him.

Mr. Mulley

Can the right hon. Gentleman explain why, at some date in September, it was possible to release this information whereas consistently during the history of this aircraft he and his right hon. Friends have refused information to hon. Members in answer to Questions in this House?

Mr. Thorneycroft

It is quite right in the early stages of development of an aircraft not to publish every detail of what one is doing, but when we are more advanced, as I am happy to say we are now, with the TSR2—which is a magnificent example of British engineering—I see no reason why we should be shy about it and I see no reason why we should not publish photographs of it.