§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will give the date when the practice or rule that an incoming Government are not able to see the papers and documents of their predecessors was first established; what statutory authority there is for this ruling; and whether he will introduce a Bill to enable all Governments to have right of access to all papers and documents of a public nature to carry on government, including papers and documents of an official nature of their predecessors.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisSince this practice was orginally regarded as self-evident, it is difficult to ascertain when it became formalised. We know however that it was regarded as an established convention in 1929. The convention, which has no statutory basis, has been accepted by6W successive Administrations and does not restrict the provision of information needed to carry on the work of government which would include papers of the kind generally described by my hon. Friend. The convention was re-examined in the light of the Eleventh Report from the Expenditure Committee (Session 1976–77, HC 535) and I draw my hon. Friend's attention to paragraphs 87–90 of the Government Observations on the Eleventh Report (Cmnd. 7117, March 1978).