§ Mr. Peter BottomleyTo ask the Prime Minister (1) if Ministers have to obtain agreement from him and from a law officer before issuing or threatening to issue proceedings for supposed defamatory allegations; [34865]
(2) if he will list the dates since 1 May on which Ministers received his permission to issue defamation proceedings, and the names of those Ministers. [34866]
§ The Prime MinisterMinisters are required under the Ministerial Code to consult the Law Officers before initiating defamation proceedings. There is no requirement for Ministers to seek my agreement before bringing such action.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyTo ask the Prime Minister when the Deputy Prime Minister consulted him and the law officers in advance of the letter dated 3 March by Davenport Lyons to the editor of Punch. [34864]
§ The Prime MinisterOn 9 March, having received a reply to the letter of 3 March from the solicitors acting on behalf of Punch, my right honourable Friend the Deputy Prime Minister approached the Law Officers for advice before making any decision on whether or not to issue proceedings, as required by the Ministerial Code.