§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what appointments at University College, Cardiff, his Department has been consulted on, and has either approved or rejected, for research assistants for the study of press-Government relations during the Falklands war;
(2) how much has been budgeted for assistance to the research project at University College, Cardiff, into press-Government relations during the Falklands war; what has already been paid; and who in the college is responsible for directing the project, supervising the research students and accounting to his Department for expenditure;
(3) under what arrangements regarding the appointment of staff and with what remit for research a grant was made to the University College, Cardiff, to study press-Government relations during the Falklands war;
(4) what was the nature of the disagreement between his Department and University College, Cardiff, regarding appointments of research assistants for the study of press-Government relations during the Falklands war.
§ Mr. StanleyThe centre for journalism studies at University college, Cardiff, is carrying out a two-year study into the relationship between the Government and the media in time of conflict, with particular reference to 261W the Falklands campaign. The value of the contract is about £100,000; about £17,000 has been paid to date. The project director is Mr. Geoffrey Mungham. Appointment of staff is the responsibility of University college, Cardiff, but, under the terms of the contract, personnel employed on the study must have appropriate qualifications and competence and be acceptable to the Ministry of Defence. We have been consulted over all such appointments and none has been rejected.