§ 43. Mr. Dribergasked the Attorney-General how many prosecutions for industrial espionage there have been in the past 18 months, and with what results.
§ 44. Mr. Neaveasked the Attorney-General how many criminal prosecutions have been instituted for disclosure or use of industrial secrets by means of espionage during the last five years; and whether he will make a statement.
§ The Attorney-GeneralIndustrial espionage is not a criminal offence, and consequently there have been no such prosecutions. However various provisions of the criminal law could apply and, in appropriate cases, have done so.
§ Mr. DribergWould my right hon. and learned Friend consider the case arising in a firm in my constituency, of which he knows, where a former employee who stole immensely valuable results of research and development could be prosecuted only for stealing bits of paper worth £3? Is he satisfied with the law as it stands at present?
§ The Attorney-GeneralMy right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has invited hon. Members to send him any evidence of the inadequacy of the present legal position. There seems to be a matter which calls for consideration, namely, that the law does not take into account the stealing of intangibles such as industrial ideas and formulae, but only apparently the paper on which they may be written; but a court could take into account the significance of the theft of the paper in deciding the sentence in the case.
§ Mr. NeaveWould not the Attorney-General agree that what is really wanted is some industrial secrets legislation to prevent the photographing of documents, which is not a criminal offence at the moment? Will he, in conjunction with the President of the Board of Trade, consider further representations on this problem during the Recess?
§ The Attorney-GeneralMost certainly, and if hon. Members have any further information on this subject we shall be very glad to receive it, because this is a very important matter for British industry.
§ Sir J. HobsonCan the right hon. and learned Gentleman say whether the information indicates that this is fairly extensive, and does need dealing with urgently?
§ The Attorney-GeneralI have no information to suggest that it is extensive, but it has been taking place.