HL Deb 02 February 1978 vol 388 cc851-2
Lord PAGET of NORTHAMPTON

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will make a Statement on their policy with regard to the supply of military information to East Germany.

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, it is not Her Majesty's Government's policy to supply classified military information to East Germany.

Lord PAGET of NORTHAMPTON

My Lords, do we make any distinction between the classified information which we pass to East Germany and to West Germany, since the two processes seem to have the same effect?

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, the views of the noble Lord are somewhat obscure. But certain unclassified information may be released to East Germany through open publications or as the result of the signature by the United Kingdom Government to the Helsinki Final Act.

Lord PAGET of NORTHAMPTON

My Lords, if the noble Lord will permit me to say so, that is not what I was referring to. We have now had some 20 years' experience; anything which we pass to West Germany is taken and passed to East Germany by the East German Secret Service.

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, if my noble friend has any evidence of this, he ought to tell the House formally.

Lord PAGET of NORTHAMPTON

My Lords, has not the House been told often enough?

Back to