§ Mr. LivingstoneTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 19 October,Official Report, column 27, how many scientists working on these projects had to sign the Official Secrets Acts or agree to any restrictions on publication or discussion of the project; and how many projects in universities and polytechnics which were funded by the Government Communications Headquarters were signed in each year since 1979.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggFive scientists working on the projects listed in my answer of 19 October have signed the Official Secrets Act. The research commissioned by GCHQ is confined to unclassified subjects, as stated in my answer of 29 June, but there are clearly benefits to GCHQ to be able to discuss the context in which the research will be useful to them, and this of necessity involves revealing classified information to some of those involved.
The numbers of research contracts signed in each year since 1979 are as follows: 87W
Institutions Number of contracts 1979 University of Birmingham 1 University of Surrey 1 1980 Loughborough University of Technology 1 1981 University of Sheffield 2 1982 University of Sheffield 1 University of Surrey 3 University of York 2 1983 University of Leicester 2 University of York 1 1984 University of Sheffield 1 1985 Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education 1 University of Leicester 1 Plymouth Polytechnic 1 1986 Imperial College, London 1 University of York 1 Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education 1 University of Leicester 1 University of Manchester 1 1987 Plymouth Polytechnic 1 University of Leicester 1 Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education 1 1988 Plymouth Polytechnic 2 1989 Cambridge University 1 1990 University of Leicester 1 1991 University of Leicester 3 University of York 1 Oxford University 1 1992 University of York 2 Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education 1 I have asked GCHQ to confirm the titles and cost of the projects referred to above and will write to the hon. Member when I have the full list.
During research for this question, a further contract has come to light which should have been included in my earlier answer. The contract signed in 1990 with the university of Leicester was worth £1,700. This should be added to the sum given in my answer of 29 June to give a total of £528,200. The contract was for testing and integration of DF subsystems.