§ Mr. George Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions since 1 June officers of his Department, whether military or civil, have given briefings to party groups of hon. Members; of which party they were; what was the duration of the briefing; and how many hon. Members and officials participated.
§ Mr. Blaker:Since 1 June my Department has given a number of briefings to groups of hon. Members. The great majority have been in the context of visits by hon. Members to defence establishments or units. These visits, in which 64 hon. Members have taken part, are usually open to interested hon. Members of all parties. They regularly include presentations on the establishment or units visited.
In addition, a 1½ hour briefing—a factual talk on the Falklands Campaign—was given on 21 July by five officers under the chairmanship of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence. Some 50 right hon. and hon. Members of the Conservative Party attended.
On the same day my right hon. Friend wrote to the other main party leaders extending an invitation to arrange a similar talk for them and their hon. Friends. In the event it was not possible to make mutually convenient arrangements before the House rose for the summer recess. Work on an up-dated talk is now in hand and the invitation will be renewed early in the new Session.