§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Defence, in view of the fact that Dieter Gerhardt, the South African commodore now awaiting trial on a charge alleging spying for Russia, spent four years at the royal naval engineering college at Manadon, Plymouth, and several other periods at British naval and military establishments, if he will list the total number of times this man has been to the United Kingdom to attend courses and so on; and if he is satisfied that no military secrets damaging to United Kingdom interests were divulged to him.
§ Mr. HeseltineWe are still assessing the implications of this matter. The facts are that Commodore Gerhardt attended training courses at the royal naval engineering college and other naval establishments between January 1956 and July 1958, May 1959 and April 1960, and August 1962 and August 1964. During the final stages of his training he would have had access to classified information. It is unlikely that any classified information he gained so long ago would have much value today.