§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) for what purpose the MoD-ICL 2980 computer installation located in Mayfair has been connected to a nationwide network of computer terminals and minicomputers;
(2) if he will provide to the House the same technical details of the MoD-ICL 2980 computer installation located in Mayfair as the employment agency EDP Systems Ltd. has been authorised to reveal to non-security-checked applicants, and further describe to the House othe purposes, cost and data stored on this computer so far as the information is not classified
§ Mr. BrittanI have been asked to reply.
I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the matters discussed in a recent article which speculates about the use of computers for national security purposes and the recruitment of staff to operate such computers. It has been the practice of successive Governments not to comment on such matters.