HC Deb 30 July 1998 vol 317 cc525-6W
Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funds have been allocated to implement the recommendations in the Legg report. [53870]

Mr. Robin Cook

The outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review will allow us to devote resources to implementing management and other changes within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. This will include changes resulting from the recommendations of the Legg report, which are in line with our intentions to modernise the FCO.

Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Legg report, if he will list the new instructions that will be given to those compiling and approving press lines. [53874]

Mr. Robin Cook

The News Department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which is responsible, in co-ordination with the specialist department concerned, for drawing up press lines, has taken full note of the lessons highlighted by the Legg report.

Mr. Howard

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to paragraph 3.20 of the Legg report, what action he proposes to take in respect of the oral statement made by the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the hon. Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd), on 12 March 1998,Official Report, column 841. [53884]

Mr. Robin Cook

None.

Mr. Howard

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to paragraph 9.55 of the Legg report, what action he proposes to take in respect of his oral statement of 12 May 1998,Official Report, column 160, that the papers seen by the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the hon. Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd), in mid-April gave rise to no grounds for apprehension or concern on the part of the Minister of State. [53880]

Mr. Robin Cook

Paragraph 9.55 of the Legg report states that the documents that went to the Minister of State were "misleading" and "substantially incomplete".

Paragraph 10.48 of the report states that the information that the Minister of State was given in mid-April indicated that this was being dealt with by officials. It told him that the FCO was not aware of a shipment of arms. He saw no need to take action.

I support his judgment at that time, based on the information that was available to him, and stand by my remarks to the House on 12 May.

Mr. Wilshire

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many times his Ministers met Sir Thomas Legg whilst he was conducting his inquiry; and what was discussed on each occasion; [53789]

(2) how many times he met Sir Thomas Legg whilst he was conducting his inquiry; and what was discussed on each occasion. [53788]

Mr. Robin Cook

I met Sir Thomas Legg and Sir Robin Ibbs shortly after their appointment, on 26 May, to discuss the terms of reference of their investigation. They subsequently held one interview each with me and my hon. Friends the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd), and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, to ask us questions about our involvement in the events they were investigating. These interviews took place on 1 July, 18 June and 29 June respectively.

Mr. Wilshire

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all those(a) who saw and (b) who were given a copy of the Legg report prior to its publication. [53793]

Mr. Robin Cook

No officials or Ministers were given a copy of the Legg report before it was presented to me on Friday 24 July, although those mentioned to any significant extent in the report were sent draft extracts referring to them, to allow them to comment.

After the report had been presented to me, and prior to my statement in the House on 27 July 1998, Official Report, columns 19–34, it was given a very limited distribution, on a confidential basis, to Ministers and senior officials, and I also allowed the two Opposition Foreign Affairs spokesmen and the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee to read it in the Foreign Office.

Mr. Wilshire

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if copies of the Legg report were issued to journalists under an embargo prior to its official publication. [53794]

Mr. Robin Cook

No.

Mr. Wilshire

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he first received the Legg report. [53787]

Mr. Robin Cook

The secretary to the Legg investigation presented the report to my office at 16.20 on Friday 24 July, and I saw it later that day.