§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Attorney-General when the Solicitor-General first knew that (a) the then Secretary of State for Trade and Industry had carried out and (b) the Prime Minister's Office had authorised the disclosure of his letter to the then Secretary of State for Defence.
§ The Attorney-GeneralMy hon. and learned Friend first knew on 22 January, when he saw the report by the head of the Civil Service, that my right hon. and learned Friend, the then Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, had himself authorised the disclosure. It was at the same time that he learned of the part played in this matter by officials on the staff of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, as she described it to the House in the statement which she made on 27 January.
§ Mr. Williamsasked the Attorney-General when he was first informed of the direct involvement of the then Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, the right hon. and learned Member for Richmond, Yorks (Mr. Brittan) in the leak of the Solicitor-General's letter.
§ The Attorney-GeneralOn 22 January, when I was given a summary shortly before receiving the report of the inquiry carried out by the head of the Civil Service.
§ Mr. Williamsasked the Attorney-General when he first learnt that officials at No. 10 Downing street had been consulted about the leak of the Solicitor-General's letter.
§ The Attorney-GeneralOn 22 January, when I was given a summary shortly before receiving the report of the inquiry carried out by the head of the Civil Service.
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§ Mr. Williamsasked the Attorney-General whether he recommended any alternatives to a formal inquiry as a method of resolving the controversy about the Solicitor-General's letter.
§ Mr. Williamsasked the Attorney-General on what date and at what time he first directly communicated to the Prime Minister his advice that a formal inquiry should be initiated into the publication of part of the Solicitor-General's letter.
§ The Attorney-GeneralI had no communication on this matter with my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, until after I had a summary of the report of the inquiry on 22 January. My views on the desirability of holding an inquiry were communicated to the head of the Civil Service, as my right hon. Friend made clear to the House on 27 January.
§ Mr. Winnickasked the Attorney-General by what means the Solicitor-General first learnt that the Prime Minister wished him to write to the then Secretary of State for Defence, the right hon. Member for Henley (Mr. Heseltine); how this communication determined the content of the letter; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Attorney-GeneralAs to the first part of the question, I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told the House on 27 January at column652. The communication in no way determined the decision of my hon. and learned Friend the Solicitor-General to write the letter, nor did it determine the contents of that letter.