§ Mr. Maddenasked the Prime Minister if she will give details of the regular arrangements under which she, or her officials, brief journalists each week; and if she will give details of the arrangements whereby her ministerial colleagues, or their officials, regularly brief journalists.
§ The Prime MinisterNo.
§ Mr. Maddenasked the Prime Minister if she will make it her policy to arrange for the preparation of an official public record of any part of briefings with journalists given by her, her ministerial colleagues, or their officials, which are conducted on an attributable basis.
§ The Prime MinisterNo.
§ Mr. Maddenasked the Prime Minister what representations Ministers have received from parliamentary journalists seeking briefings from them, or their officials, on an attributable basis.
§ The Prime MinisterI am not aware of any. My office has, however, received a report of the parliamentary lobby journalists' inquiry into lobby practice. This recommended enabling Ministers, among others, to speak on the record in a lobby briefing if that is mutually agreed. My colleagues and I have taken note of this opportunity.
§ Mr. Maddenasked the Prime Minister if she will instruct all Ministers who brief journalists that such briefings should be conducted on an attributable basis and that all briefings held by departmental officials should be conducted on the same basis.
§ The Prime MinisterNo.