§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the practice whereby civil servants prevent Ministers from having access to files or information or records concerning public matters when taking over office from their predecessors after a general election; on what statutory authority such bans are enforced; and whether she will take steps to ensure that such matters concerning public affairs are made freely available to Ministers generally or to those Ministers with relevant departmental responsibilities.
§ The Prime MinisterNo. I believe that the basis of the long-established convention that incoming Ministers do not have access to documents indicating the views expressed by their predecessors of a different political party is well understood, and there is therefore no need for the steps suggested by the hon Member.