asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is satisfied that no confidential documents of his Department were passed to Jessop Marine in the period before the decision was made to grant the contract for salvaging the gold on HMS "Edinburgh"; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. and learned Friend the Minister for Trade to a similar question today. We have no evidence that confidential documents were passed to Jessop Marine Recoveries Ltd. by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.