§ 52. Mr. Roebuckasked the Minister of Technology whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the £56 million paid by his Department and its predecessor since April, 1961, to Handley Page Limited.
§ Mr. CarmichaelIt is not customary for reasons of commercial confidentiality and military security to give the details of the value of individual aircraft programmes or contracts.
§ 53. Mr. Roebuckasked the Minister of Technology whether he will institute inquiries to establish how much was paid to Handley Page Limited from public funds between the end of the Second World War and April, 1961; and if he will publish details in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. CarmichaelThis is not possible since many of the records of payments before 1961 have been destroyed in accordance with the Department's Standing Instructions.