Written question asked by Lord Blencathra (Conservative) on Friday, 5 March 1999, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 18 March 1999. It was answered by Stephen Byers (Labour) on Thursday, 18 March 1999 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if (a) he, (b) civil servants in his Department or (c) special advisers in his Department have (i) had sight of drafts of select committee reports, in whole or in part, or (ii) been informed of conclusions of select committee reports prior to their publication by the select committees. - (Holding answer 10 March 1999).

Answer: Mr. Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if (a) he, (b) civil servants in his Department or (c) special advisers in his Department have (i) had sight of drafts of select committee reports, in whole or in part, or (ii) been informed of conclusions of select committee reports prior to their publication by the select committees. [75882] Mr. Byers: [holding answer 10 March 1999]: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Spelthorne (Mr. Wilshire) on 1 March 1999, Official Report, column 531. There have been no instances of members of Select Committees giving me drafts of Select Committee reports, or parts of reports including their conclusions, before publication. Nor, to the best of my knowledge, have there been any occasions on which members of Select Committees have given such material to civil servants or special advisers in my Department.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 75882; 327 c713-4W
Session: 1998-99
Subjects: Disclosure of information Civil servants Department of Trade and Industry Government departments Ministers Special advisers Select Committee reports