British Defence Equipment Catalogue

HC Deb 18 December 1968 vol 775 cc1380-1

37. Mr. Farr

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps were taken to vet for security purposes the editors of the new British Defence Equipment Catalogue.

Mr. Reynolds

None was necessary.

Mr. Farr

Is the Minister aware that the publishers of this magazine were having classified and non-classified material sent to them direct from the manufacturers of certain products? Is that not a particularly dangerous procedure?

Mr. Reynolds

The magazine will not contain any classified information. If the hon. Member has any specific item in mind where something has gone wrong, perhaps he will let me know.

Mr. Murray

In view of the fact that there have been espionage and security cases since the end of the war, and security deficiencies, would not the Minister consider scrapping the whole of the vetting procedure, or at least reviewing it?

Mr. Reynolds

It is constantly reviewed, but I certainly would not wish to scrap it.