§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the President of the Board of Trade for how many documents Her Majesty's Government have claimed public interest immunity in respect of the application in the High Court by the NUM on pit closures; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Eggar[holding answer 30 November 1992]: None. On 26 November 1992 counsel acting on my right hon. Friend's behalf in these proceedings properly drew attention of the court to the fact that two documents which had recently been submitted in evidence by the National Union of Mineworkers and which were already in the public domain fell within an established class of document capable of attracting public interest immunity. The question of whether the documents should attract such immunity was left entirely to the court which subsequently decided that they should be allowed as evidence.