§ 31. Mr. Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley)What meetings he has had with representatives from (a) GJW, (b) GPC Market Access and (c) LLM to discuss the prosecution services. [51718]
§ The Attorney-GeneralMy Department does not have substantial policy responsibilities, and meetings with interested groups outside Government are quite rare. It is not the practice of this Government to make information about such meetings or their content publicly available. The Prime Minister published guidance on Monday setting out the basic principles that should be followed in any contact with people outside Government, including lobbyists.
§ Mr. EvansI am grateful for that response. Does that mean that the Attorney-General has changed procedure in his Department since the Derek Draper cash-for-access 528 cronygate scandal, or is he happy that the procedures in his Department were sufficient not to soil its good standing, which was not the case with Downing street?
§ The Attorney-GeneralI have made my Department's position clear. I invite the hon. Gentleman to read and study over the recess and improve his knowledge. I know that he is a graduate in politics. During the summer holiday he has 11 weeks to consider the guidance to all civil servants setting out the principles.
§ Mr. Gerald Bermingham (St. Helens, South)Does my right hon. and learned Friend agree that the hon. Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans) could begin his lessons by learning to read and to understand that in the civil service, and certainly in the Law Officers Department, everything is totally above board and always has been?
§ The Attorney-GeneralI very much welcome my hon. Friend's observations.