§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the decision to issue his press statement, Ref 12, of 6 January had been cleared with the Prime Minister's Office.
§ Mr. PattieYes.
§ Mr. Bellasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he first had a sight of the letter which the then Sectetary of State for Defence, the right hon. Member for Henley (Mr. Heseltine), proposed to send to Mr. David Home, banking adviser to the European Consortium in the Westland affair and which was subsequently sent on 3 January; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PattieMy right hon. and learned Friend did not see the letter until after it had been sent.
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry at what time his press release of 6 January headed, "Leon Brittan, Statement on Westland", was published.
§ Mr. PattieThe statement on Westland of 6 January by my right hon. and learned Friend the then Secretary of State was distributed by a member of my Department's press office at the press conference held by Westland plc on 6 January and was subsequently distributed by the Central Office of Information at 16.30, on its regular distribution run.
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he had time, following receipt of his copy of the Solicitor-General's letter to the then Secretary of State for Defence, to amend his press statement No. 12 of 6 January before a member of his staff departed to distribute it at the Westlands board meeting.
§ Mr. PattieThe statement of 6 January by my right hon. and learned Friend the then Secretary of State was drafted and finalised before his receipt of the Solicitor-General's letter to the then Secretary of State for Defence and the contents of that letter had no effect on the statement. The purpose of that statement was to re-affirm the position of the Government on Westland, as set out by my right hon. Friend in his statement to the House on 16 December and by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 17 and 19 December, that it is for Westland as a private sector company to decide the best route to follow in order to secure its future and that of its employees.
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry at what time the member of his Department left his office on 6 January to attend the Westland board meeting to distribute at the meeting copies of his press release, "Statement on Westland."
§ Mr. PattieA press officer left my Department to attend the Westland press conference at 15.40 on 6 January.