§ 20. Mr. Dennis Canavan (Falkirk, West)If he will make a statement about the information which he has received about Select Committee reports before their publication. [74927]
§ The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Robin Cook)I have already provided such information in my statement to the House, and in written parliamentary answers. The special report on Sierra Leone by the Foreign Affairs Committee is now before the Committee on Standards and Privileges, which I shall provide with any further information that it requires.
§ Mr. CanavanMay we have an assurance that if there is any further attempt by a Select Committee member to hand over a draft report to the Secretary of State, the Secretary of State will hand that report back to the Chairman or Clerk of the appropriate Select Committee?
§ Mr. CookI can happily give my hon. Friend and the House an assurance that we will destroy any such report without taking further action.