§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will name the firms which in 1965 to 1967 have had commercial dealings with defence research establishments on the development of mechanical handling gear.
§ Mr. Mason:In the period 1965 to 1967 many firms were informed of defence requirements for items of mechanical handling equipment embodying special characteristics not found in commercial pattern machines:on one item alone details of our requirement were sent to some 40 firms. In all, four firms lent or sold equipment for evaluation against defence requirements and six undertook contracts involving development or modification of equipment. It is not customary to publish the names of firms with whom we have contractual relations.