§ 4. Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will advise the firms carrying out military aircraft projects for Her Majesty's Government that there is no official objection to their making available to hon. Members of this House any information which he himself has made available to journalists at a non-attributable Press briefing.
§ Mr. HealeyNo, Sir.
§ Mr. OnslowWhat is the Minister afraid of? Clearly not me, but perhaps of some of his friends? What inhibits him giving freely to this House information which, in spite of the Official Secrets Act, he seems willing to give to journalists?
§ Mr. HealeyI can assure the hon. Member that I find him comic rather than alarming. On the second question, as the House knows, many estimates have been published in the Press. Indeed, Flight published two quite different estimates in recent weeks.
§ Mr. RipponIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that we regard it as quite unsatisfactory that he should make a personal comment about one of my hon. Friends? Does he realise that there is considerable anxiety, which has been expressed on both sides of the House, about the way in which information is available to the Press which is not made available to the House of Commons?
§ Mr. HealeyAs I have pointed out in my answer to a previous question, I would have thought the right hon. Gentleman, who is a Shadow Minister of Defence, an office which I hope he will hold for a very long time, would recognise that it is necessary, when attacked, to defend oneself. On the other question, many figures have appeared in the Press, even the same newspapers, which have differed from time to time. I cannot take responsibility for any of those figures, but if I can get the agreement of my partners I shall seek to give the House more figures when we proceed to the development.
§ Mr. Ronald AtkinsIs the Secretary of State aware that the figures about M.R.C.A. upon which we as Members are relying are based on something we saw in the Financial Times two weeks ago?
§ Mr. HealeyI am not aware of that, but I am interested to know the papers my hon. Friend reads.
§ Mr. OnslowIn view of the cynical and unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall seek to raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible moment.