HC Deb 13 May 1986 vol 97 cc540-1
3. Mr. Gareth Wardell

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is satisfied with the progress of strategic defence initiative research.

Mr. Younger

Progress of SDI research as a whole is a matter for the United States Government.

Mr. Wardell

In view of the leaking of the memorandum of understanding on SDI between the West German Government and the United States Government, will the Secretary of State now publish the agreement between the British and American Governments before it is also leaked?

Mr. Younger

The details of the memorandum of understanding between the British and United States Governments contain confidential matters which it would not be appropriate to publish. However, I have by arrangement, on a classified basis, supplied the details of the memorandum to the Defence Select Committee, which I hope it will find helpful.

Mr. Michael Marshall

Does my right hon. Friend accept that there is a little concern about his initial answer? As I understand it, my right hon. Friend's predecessor and Mr. Weinberger took a particular and detailed interest in the agreement to ensure effective implementation. In the light of agreements between the Federal Republic of Germany and Israel, does my right hon. Friend feel that it is a matter of urgency that some progress can be demonstrated to those who follow these matters?

Mr. Younger

It is certainly desirable that progress can be demonstrated in our participation in the SDI research programme. All memorandums of understanding are not necessarily the same. For classified reasons, it would not be appropriate to publish ours.

Mr. McNamara

Will the Secretary of State say whether the classification is based on commercial or defence reasons, or both? If it is only for defence reasons, when will we know the commercial background to these matters, and who will control the outcome of the research—us or the Pentagon?

Mr. Younger

There are both commercial and defence reasons for the confidentiality, so it would not be proper to publish the memorandum of understanding. However, I hope that the House will find it an acceptable compromise for the Defence Select Committee to see the memorandum on a classified basis.

Mr. Cyril D. Townsend

Will my right hon. Friend confirm that the Soviet Union has been exploring this area for many years, that if we had not taken part in the initiative nothing would have stopped the United States from creaming off some of our brightest and best academics to participate, and that, through our participation, we may be able to influence the important decision whether this important initiative is implemented in due course?

Mr. Younger

I agree with my hon. Friend. If we had decided not to take any part in this purely research programme it would have continued regardless, without any participation by British companies. Indeed, there would have been considerable danger that skilled British technicians would have had to emigrate to America to participate, and that would not have been in our interests in any respect.