Birkbeck College (Hansard, 17 July 1989)

§ Mr. Campbell-Savours
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what dates discussions took place between his Department and a journalist forThe Sunday Times on the question of Birkbeck college work on matters relating to defence.

§ Mr. Sainsbury
On 30 June, 1 July, 4 July, 6 July and 7 July 1989.

§ Mr. Campbell-Savours
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contacts his Department has had withThe Mail on Sunday on the question of the handling of matters relating to defence by Birkbeck college.

§ Mr. Sainsbury
The Mail on Sunday was in contact with officials at the Ministry of Defence on a number of occasions between 30 June and 7 July 1989.

§ Mr. Campbell-Savours
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions have taken place between officials in his Department and a journalist onThe Sunday Times during the last month on aspects of security relating to work on defence matters being carried out by Birkbeck college.

§ Mr. Sainsbury
Discussions between officials andThe Sunday Times took place on a number of occasions from 30 June onwards concerning work on defence matters being carried out by Birkbeck college.

§ Mr. Campbell-Savours
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information was given by his Department to a journalist fromThe Sunday Times about an investigation by Her Majesty's Government into the handling and use of classified material by Birkbeck college.

§ Mr. Sainsbury
None.

§ Mr. Campbell-Savours
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what instructions were given to Professor Herriot of the occupational psychology department of Birkbeck college by his Department on the handling and return to his Department of papers relating to defence matters.

§ Mr. Sainsbury
There have been no specific instructions. Following the completion of work on an earlier phase of a research agreement placed with the occupational psychology department at Birkbeck college, it was agreed at a progress meeting in March 1989 that documents no longer required should be returned to the Ministry of Defence.

§ Mr. Campbell-Savours
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the story proposed to be published inThe Sunday Times relating to Birkbeck college's handling of matters relating to defence was read over the phone to a person employed by his Department.

§ Mr. Sainsbury
Officials in the limited time available on 30 June and 1 July did their best to be helpful toThe Sunday Times. However, nothing that was said confirmed the assertions made in the subsequent press reports.

§ Mr. Campbell-Savours
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has withdrawn papers from Birkbeck college relating to defence matters on grounds of national security.
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§ Mr. Sainsbury
No. I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave on 6 July to the hon. Member for Clackmannan (Mr. O'Neill), column 265.

§ Mr. Campbell-Savours
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is satisfied with the arrangements for the handling and use of classified matter on defence matters by persons who work at Birkbeck college.

§ Mr. Sainsbury
As no classified work is currently placed at Birkbeck college the question of the handling and use made of classified matter there does not arise.

§ Mr. Campbell-Savours
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will order an investigation into his Department's handling of press statements relating to the handling of matters relating to defence by Birkbeck college.

§ Mr. Sainsbury
No.