§ 22. Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what computerised data storage systems are in current use in his Department; and what controls are exercised on access to information stored in them.
§ The Minister for Aerospace (Mr. Michael Heseltine)Several compulter systems are used for statistical, research 985 and information purposes and for computer aided design. Careful security measures are in force in order to ensure that no unauthorised person has access to any confidential information stored on them.
§ Mr. HuckfieldWhile I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for that guarantee of confidentiality, may I ask him whether he is not aware that many of us on this side of the House would be particularly grateful to have access to information about how much of his Department's money spent on support to the machine tool industry is spent on imported machine tools? Is it not a fact that despite all these computerised systems the Government do not know how much of their £10 million will he going abroad?
§ Mr. HeseltineI do not quite see that that is relevant to the Question, but if the hon. Member wants to put down a Question on those lines we shall consider it very carefully.