§ 37. Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Attorney-General ii he will make a statement on implementation of reforms recommended by Lord Justice Scott. [276]
§ The Attorney-GeneralOn the recommendations for which I have departmental responsibility, I informed the House on 17 June that, as from that date, the role of the Attorney-General would include superintendence of those Customs and Excise prosecutions relating to defence exports and sanctions infringements that require evidence of deliberate evasion. The public consultation that I announced in February on public interest immunity has been concluded, and I hope to announce the Government's conclusions soon.
§ Mr. SmithThe Government promised to report to Members of Parliament on the politically controversial use of public interest immunity certificates to suppress politically embarrassing information. When will that report be made available, and what is the reason for the delay?
§ The Attorney-GeneralI hope to produce the report soon. I want to correct the hon. Gentleman—I am sure that, when he reflects on the matter, he will know that I am right to do so. Such certificates have never been used to suppress material information. There is no instance of that happening. It is about time that that old canard—if that is a parliamentary word—was knocked on the head.