§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether Earl Howe's Answer of 22nd July (H.L. Deb., col. WA 121) relating to contracts for major British defence procurements and to the implications for this country of the presence of former Ministry of Defence officials and former United Kingdom armed forces personnel who are still subject to the Official Secrets Acts in the United States firms now tendering for those contracts, that "decisions on defence procurements are taken only after all relevant factors have been taken into account", indicates that they are now examining this matter.
Earl HoweCrown servants are required to apply for official permission to accept appointments with defence contractors, whether in the UK or foreign-based, within two years of leaving Crown service if they have had official dealings with the prospective employer. The presence of ex-Crown servants in the employ of defence contractors is not, of itself, considered relevant to procurement decisions.