asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will give an assurance that former employees of his Department are not encouraged to jeopardise British technological developments by selling their expertise, gained during confidential work in his Department, to foreign competitors, in the light of a case notified to him by the hon. Member for Christchurch and Lymington; and if he will make a statement.

Former employees are not so encouraged. In the case notified to my right hon. Friend by the hon. Member the information concerned was not confidential, being freely available