§ Mr. Gordon Brownasked the Prime Minister if she will authorise the publication of the notes prepared by civil servants on 8 January on the meeting between Sir Raymond Lygo and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.
§ The Prime MinisterNo.
§ Mr. Gordon Brownasked the Prime Minister if she will publish the minute of the ministerial meeting on 9 December which discussed the possibility of a further meeting of Ministers in that week.
§ The Prime MinisterNo. the normal rules for the release of Cabinet committee papers will apply.
§ Mr. Winnickasked the Prime Minister if it was with her authority that an official from her office contacted the British Broadcasting Corporation and asked it not to broadcast an interview to be given by the then Secretary of State for Defence the right hon. Member for Henley (Mr. Heseltine) on 22 December; and if she will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterAgainst the background of a Cabinet decision on 19 December reported to the House that same day at question time, my chief press secretary, with my authority, sought to persuade neither the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry nor the then Secretary of State for Defence to participate in BBC Radio 4's "World this Weekend" programme on Sunday 22 December. In the course of this, he communicated to the BBC the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry's decision to withdraw his consent to its broadcasting an interview with him which had been pre-recorded. In the event, interviews with both Ministers were broadcast.
88W
§ Dr. Gilbertasked the Prime Minister if any officials in the Department of Trade and Industry have complained to either the permanent secretary or the head of the Civil Service about the accuracy of the report prepared by Mr. Mogg of the meeting between Sir Raymond Lygo and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry; and if she will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterNo.
§ Mr. Wrigglesworthasked the Prime Minister if Ministers or officials of Her Majesty's Government have had discussions with members of the United States Administration about the position of Westland.
§ The Prime MinisterI am not aware of any view or advice offered by the United States Government nor of any request from Ministers and officials of Her Majesty's Government to the United States Government in relation to the position of Westland. Information about the Government's approach has been provided in the normal way.
§ Mr. Gordon Brownasked the Prime Minister (1) if she will now authorise the publication of the document of 4 October prepared by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on Westland helicopters;
(2) if she will now authorise the publication of the document of 18 October prepared by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on Westland helicopters.
§ The Prime MinisterNo.
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Prime Minister (1) whether she authorised Mr. Jeffrey Archer to read the Cabinet and departmental papers relating to the Government's policy towards Westland;
(2) what access to Cabinet papers is given to Mr. Jeffrey Archer.
§ The Prime MinisterMr. Jeffrey Archer has no access to Cabinet or departmental papers.