§ Mr. Williamsasked the Prime Minister on what occasions between 6 January and 22 January she met, 575W telephoned or wrote to the then Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, the right hon. and learned Member for Richmond, Yorks (Mr. Brittan).
§ The Prime MinisterIt is not the practice to give details of exchanges between Ministers.
§ Mr. Williamsasked the Prime Minister when she became aware of the letter of 7 January from the Solicitor-General to the then Secretary of State for Defence the right hon. Member for Henley (Mr. Heseltine); what steps she then took to bring this information into the public domain; and when the letter was released.
§ The Prime MinisterI saw the letter some hours after it was sent. As I said in the House on 27 January, the Government made clear to Westland plc on 13 January that there was nothing to add to my letter to the company of 1 January. The Solicitor-General's letter was placed in the Library of the House on 27 January.
§ Mr. Maddenasked the Prime Minister if she will make it Her Majesty's Government's policy that all Departments and the Cabinet Office make available all papers, documents and persons requested of them by any Select Committee of the House inquiring into any aspects of the affairs of Westland plc; and if she will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterMinisters will decide who should represent their Departments before Select Committees inquiring into the circumstances surrounding Westland, and will observe the normal conventions about the disclosure of documents.