§ Baroness Hanhamasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Goldsmith on 17 March 2003 (WA 2), whether the draft text of this Answer was discussed either by the Prime Minister's Director of Government Relations, Baroness Morgan of Huyton, or the Lord Chancellor prior to its publication; and, if so, whether the Attorney-General agreed to any change in the draft text of that Answer, proposed by either Baroness Morgan or the Lord Chancellor or officials instructed by them. [HL1499]
§ Lord GoldsmithThe Written Answer of 17 March 2003 was drawn up in my office. Those involved were myself, the Solicitor-General, two officials in my office, three officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and Christopher Greenwood QC. The draft was also discussed with the then Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine of Lairg. I was fully involved throughout the drafting process and personally finalised, and of course approved, the Answer.
No other Minister or official was involved in any way. In particular, neither Baroness Morgan of Huyton nor Lord Falconer of Thoroton, nor any official in the Prime Minister's office had any involvement whatever in the drafting of the Answer. I have never said that they did so. As I have always made clear, I set out in the Answer my own genuinely held, independent view that military action was lawful under the existing Security Council resolutions. The Answer did not purport to be a summary of my confidential legal advice to the Government.