§ 3. Mr. Lubbockasked the Minister of Aviation what information he has received from Bristol Siddeley about industrial espionage in relation to the Olympus 593 engine for the Concord.
§ Mr. SnowNone, Sir. I understand that Bristol Siddeley is taking all appropriate steps to protect the commercial secrets of this engine.
§ Mr. LubbockIs it a fact that the Russians have been inviting senior executives, of the Bristol Siddeley company to give lectures in the Soviet Union in order to obtain information from them and that they have made direct applications for details of the test programme on the Olympus 593? Can my hon. Friend say whether there is any truth in the report, which appeared in the Daily Express on 14th November, that Bristol Siddeley has recently had to tighten its security precautions?
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The hon. Member must make himself responsible for his own question.
§ Mr. SnowI am not, of course, responsible for what appears in the newspapers. A distinction must, however, be drawn between company confidential information, which is at the company's discretion, and military security, which does not arise in this case. As for the rest of the hon. Member's supplementary question, I think that the company is well aware of the considerations.