§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland why he has decided not to publish the report of the Inter-Departmental Committee on Rural Development which will soon be completed.
§ Mr. HanleyThe report of the Inter-Departmental Committee on Rural Development will provide advice to Ministers on ways in which the delivery of the Government's social and economic policies in the most deprived rural areas of Northern Ireland might be improved. It would not be appropriate to publish internal advice of this nature.
However, I acknowledge the continuing interest of the hon. Gentleman and others in the work of the Committee and on receipt of its report I will be considering whether and in what form more detailed information about its work and conclusions might be released.