§ Mr. LivingstoneTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 21 May,Official Report, column 256, what are the reasons behind his Department's policy not to publish the list of Ministry of Defence research projects in universities and polytechnics which are unclassified.
§ Mr. AitkenThe hon. Gentleman knows that it has been our consistent policy not to release details of individual research contracts at universities and other institutions of higher education, but to leave it to the institutions themselves to confirm their involvement.
§ Mr. LivingstoneTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many research projects in universities and polytechnics are currently being funded by the Ministry of Defence; what is their total worth; and how many of these research projects are currently classified secret.
§ Mr. AitkenThe Ministry of Defence is currently funding in universities and other institutions of higher education in Britain 789 research contracts and agreements with a total value of £75.1 million. One is classified secret.