§ Sir B. Rhys Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost of his current programme of research into systems to protect the confidentiality of official microwave telephone transmissions in urban areas; and if he proposes to make available the results of his research for protection of private and commercial transmissions.
§ Dr. GilbertEncryption facilities are available to protect official telephone conversations which contain classified information, whether or not these telephone conversations are carried on microwave circuits; and there is continuing research into ways of improving and extending this protection. It would not be in the public 735W interest to give any details of the protection provided or of the resources which are allocated to the research effort. The protection of other than official conversations is a matter for the individual subscriber.