§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he had, at the time of signing public interest certificates on the Matrix Churchill case on(a) work undertaken on behalf of Her Majesty's Government by defendants in the case, (b) previous work 759W carried out by his officials relating to export licence applications by Matrix Churchill and (c) policies relating to the export of military equipment to Iraq prior to 2 August 1990; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AitkenThese are matters for Lord Justice Scott's inquiry to consider.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any of the official documents relating to the Scott inquiry have been lost or destroyed; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AitkenIt is my Department's policy routinely to review and, where appropriate, destroy documents, usually after five years. Following the announcement of Lord Justice Scott's inquiry, instructions were issued prohibiting the destruction of any relevant papers. I am advised there are very few documents requested by the inquiry which my Department has been unable to provide.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what documents his Department has been asked to provide to Lord Justice Scott; what documents his Department has supplied; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AitkenLord Justice Scott has asked for a wide range of documents, held by my Department and relevant to this inquiry. The papers supplied to the inquiry to date amount to more than 18,000 pages.