asked the Prime Minister what official documents were made available to the author of the book, "The Mare's Nest", extracts of which have been published in a Sunday newspaper, containing decisions by the Cabinet of 1939–45 and the Defence Committee on the manufacture of weapons and their use against the enemy; and by what authority they were so made available.

I understand that the author had access to the collection of papers of the late Lord Cherwell; and that these contained copies of a number of Defence Committee and Chiefs of Staff papers. In addition, he was permitted to see certain relevant operational records of the Royal Air Force.