§ Mr. VazTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to allow people who are being considered for appointments as Queen's Counsel to see files that are held by him on them.
Mr. John M. TaylorFactual information held on a candidate is available on request in the form of a summary sheet. It is also open to the individual concerned to see a senior official of the Lord Chancellor's Department when he can be told the tenor of the opinions received. However, as in most organisations dealing with recruitment and appointments, the references and opinions obtained on those who have applied for appointment as Queen's Counsel are confidential. The Lord Chancellor has no plans to make them available to applicants.