Written question asked by Lord Campbell of Pittenweem (Liberal Democrat) on Friday, 20 February 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 9 March 2004. It was answered by Baroness Harman (Labour) on Tuesday, 9 March 2004 on behalf of the Solicitor General.

Solicitor-General

Question: To ask the Solicitor General, if she will list the occasions on which the Attorney General formally submitted an opinion on the legality of the use of force against Iraq prior to 18th March 2003; and if she will make a statement. (Holding answer 25 February 2004).

Answer: Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will list the occasions on which the Attorney- General formally submitted an opinion on the legality of the use of force against Iraq prior to 18 March 2003; and if she will make a statement. [156250] The Solicitor-General: [holding answer 25 February 2004]: No. There is a long-standing convention, observed by successive Governments, that whether the Law Officers have advised on a particular matter, and the substance of any advice, is not disclosed outside Government. This is consistent with paragraphs 2 and 4d of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. The Attorney-General made a statement in Parliament on 17 March 2003 setting out his view of the legal basis for the use of force against Iraq. On the same date, the Foreign Secretary submitted a memorandum to the Foreign Affairs Committee which gave further detail of the legal position.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 418 c1407W;418 c1409W; 156250
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Disclosure of information Armed conflict Attorney General Iraq Legal opinion Weapons Iraq conflict
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk