§ Lord CheshamMy Lords, with the leave of the House, I wish to raise an important matter. At 11.30 this morning I received a telephone call from a journalist who asked questions about a Written Answer in response to a Question which I had tabled. She apparently had been advised by the Cabinet Office that the Answer was available and she obtained a copy. I have still not received a copy of that reply. May I please have an explanation for this and an assurance that a similar disregard of Parliament will not happen again?
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyMy Lords, I am completely mortified by what the noble Lord has just said. I offer him unqualified apologies both on behalf of myself, as I signed the Answer to the Question late yesterday evening, and also on behalf of the Government as a whole. I can assure the noble Lord that there will be a full investigation as to how what he described politely as a disregard of Parliament took place. He will be informed of all the details and I shall make whatever public announcement is necessary as a result. That will happen as soon as possible.