§ Mr. Bellasked the Attorney-General if he will outline the grounds on which he based his statement to the Prime Minister that he was satisfied that the offer of immunity from prosecution to an individual in connection with the disclosure of official information relating to the Westland affair in no way interfered with the course of justice; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Winnickasked the Attorney-General when the Solicitor-General was first informed that extracts from his letter to the then Secretary of State for Defence had been publicly disclosed; and how he was so informed.
§ The Attorney-GeneralBefore I authorised the Head of the Civil Service to inform the person concerned that, provided that she gave a full and truthful account of what she knew about this matter, she would not be prosecuted, I satisfied myself, on the basis of what he was already able to report to me, that she was unwilling, unless given such an assurance, to provide the full and frank account of the facts which was essential if the inquiry was to be successful. I was also satisfied that there was in any event no possibility that proceedings would be instituted against her in respect of the part which she had played in this matter.
§ Mr. Bellasked the Attorney-General on what date the Director of Public Prosecutions was consulted about the possibility of instituting proceedings against any persons concerned in the disclosure of official information relating to the Westland affair; on what date senior Treasury counsel were consulted on the same question; and what was their specific role in the matter.
§ The Attorney-GeneralBoth the Director of Public Prosecutions and senior Treasury counsel were consulted on 23 January. Their role was to advise me whether the facts of this case justified the institution of criminal proceedings against any person under section 2 of the Official Secrets Acts 1911. My consultation of them was in accordance with the usual practice in matters of this kind.
§ Mr. Bellasked the Attorney-General on what date and at what hour his right hon. and learned Friend the Solicitor-General first became aware that extracts from his letter of 6 January to the then Secretary of State for Defence, the right hon. Member for Henley (Mr. Heseltine) had been communicated to the Press Association; what was his source of information on this point; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Attorney-GeneralMy hon. and learned Friend the Solicitor-General first learned of the disclosure at about 3 pm on 6 January as a result of my Department being asked to comment on it by representatives of the media shortly before that time.
§ Mr. Winnickasked the Attorney-General when he was first informed that extracts from the letter from the Solicitor-General to the then Secretary of State for 356W Defence, the right hon. Member for Henley (Mr. Heseltine) had been disclosed; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Attorney-GeneralI first learned of the disclosure when I heard reports on the radio at about 5 pm on 6 January.
§ Mr. Redmondasked the Attorney-General if he will publish in the Official Report the full text of (a) the lever dated 6 January from his right hon. and learned Friend the Solicitor-General to the then Secretary of State for Defence and (b) the further letter from the Solicitor-General to the then Secretary of State relating to Westland plc.
§ The Attorney-GeneralA copy of my hon. and learned Friend's letter of 6 January was placed in the Library of the House on 15 January. A copy of his further letter of 7 January has today been placed in the Library. I understand that a copy of the letter of 6 January from my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Defence to which that further letter was a reply has also been placed in the Library.