HC Deb 02 March 1987 vol 111 cc526-8W
Mr. Cohen

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if, pursuant to the answer of 16 February, Official Report, column 367, he will specify the title under which expenditure so far incurred on Project Zircon has been separately and specifically identified, where it has been so identified.

Mr. Younger

It is not the practice to publish such information.

Mrs. Clwyd

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 6 February, Official Report, column 880, what is his understanding as to the precise definition of the phrase expect to consult, in relation to the Comptroller and Auditor General's handling of sensitive defence projects on which expenditure has been incurred which would normally justify its being reported to the Public Accounts Committee; what is his understanding as to the degree of discretion which this term allows the Comptroller and Auditor General in deciding whether to inform the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee about such a project; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

It would not be proper for me to comment on dealings between the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee.

Mrs. Clwyd

asked the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason Project Zircon has been excluded from his Department's major project statement to the Committee of Public Accounts; who, outside his Department, was informed of this exclusion and when; when his Department first informed the Public Accounts Committee that it reserved the right to withhold certain projects from the major projects statement; how many projects have been so withheld since 1982; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The project to which the hon. Member refers was excluded from the major project statement on grounds of national security. I refer the hon. Member to my answer to her on 2 February 1987 at column517 and confirm that in the case to which she refers the National Audit Office was informed in the time scale indicated in that answer. My Department has made no general statement to the Public Accounts Committee regarding the exclusion of projects from the major project statement. Since the major project statement was introduced in 1982 my Department has included in successive statements all projects which fell clearly within the cost and other criteria for inclusion, the sole exclusion being the project to which the hon. Member refers.

Mrs. Clwyd

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's practice with regard to conveying to the Comptroller and Auditor General the degree of security sensitivity attached to a particular project which is the subject of his audit examination; at what stage and by what method this is done; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

In conducting their audit activities the staff of the Comptroller and Auditor General have access to departmental files, and can therefore see from the security classifications accorded to their contents the degree of security sensitivity attached to particular projects.

Mrs. Clwyd

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 24 February, if he will propose to the Committee of Public Accounts that the arrangements surrounding the major projects statement be revised so that all projects which qualify for inclusion in it on expenditure grounds but which are currently excluded on grounds of national security or the public interest should be notified to the Chairman of the Committee; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

No.

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