§ 3.22 p.m.
§ LORD DILHORNEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any new directives have been issued with regard to the claiming of Crown Privilege by Ministers.]
§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (LORD GARDINER)My Lords, in future a Minister will not claim privilege for any document on security grounds except after consultation with the Prime Minister. The question of Crown privilege in general will he examined by the Law Reform Committee as part of its inquiry into the law of evidence, and I am asking the Committee to give priority to this part of its inquiry.