Written question asked by David Amess (Conservative) on Thursday, 8 December 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 12 December 2005. It was answered by David Lammy (Labour) on Tuesday, 13 December 2005 on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Departmental Guidance (Evidence/Documentary Access)

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her policy is with regard to (a) Ministers and (b) officials in her Department giving evidence to the (i) Scottish Parliament, (ii) National Assembly for Wales and (iii) Northern Ireland Assembly committees; and to what categories of document she gives (A) full access, (B) restricted access and (C) no access to (1) the Scottish Parliament, (2) National Assembly for Wales, (3) Northern Ireland Assembly and (4) House of Commons select committees.

Answer: Requests for the attendance of Ministers or officials to give evidence to the devolved legislatures, and for the provision of information to the assemblies, will be considered on a case by case basis. The consideration will reflect: the principles set out in the Cabinet Office guidance Departmental Evidence and response to Select Committees (July 2005); the policy outlined in the Department for Constitutional Affairs' Devolution Guidance Note #12 Attendance of UK Ministers and Officials of Information Act. The principles underlying the provision of at Committees of the devolved legislature; and the requirements of the Freedom information to House of Commons Select Committee are set out in Departmental Evidence and response to Select Committees, particularly sections 4B and 4C.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 440 c1890W;440 c1890W; 37399
Session: 2005-06
Subjects: Disclosure of information Devolution Civil servants Government departments Northern Ireland Assembly National Assembly for Wales Ministers Scottish Parliament Select committees Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk