Written question asked by Lord Blencathra (Conservative) on Thursday, 25 March 1999, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 31 March 1999. It was answered by Donald Dewar (Labour) on Wednesday, 31 March 1999 on behalf of the Scottish Office.

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Scottish Office

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, on the basis of whose request the honourable Member for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber agreed to let the Secretary of State see extracts from the Scottish Affairs Committee report on Multi-Layer Democracy (HC 460 of Session 1997-98); if he, other ministers or advisers contacted any other members of the Scottish Affairs Committee seeking information on its report on Multi-Layer Democracy (HC 460 of Session 1997-98) prior to its publication; if he initiated the contact with the honourable Member for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber which led to him receiving extracts from the Scottish Affairs Committee report on Multi-Layer Democracy (HC 460 of Session 1997-98); if he will list the people in his Department who saw the leaked copy of the Scottish Affairs Committee report on Multi-Layer Democracy (HC 460 of Session 1997-98) prior to publication and the approximate dates when this occurred; what use (a) he, (b) his ministers and (c) his advisers made of the leaked copy of the Scottish Affairs Committee report on Multi-Layer Democracy (HC 460 of Session 1997-98) in briefing the press.

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Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

328 c795-6W; 79353;79354;79355;79356;79352

Session

1998-99

Subjects

Disclosure of information Civil servants Ministers Special advisers Select Committee reports Scottish Office