§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many public interest immunity certificates he, or his predecessors, have been asked to sign in each year since 1979; how many he or his predecessors decided not to sign; and if he will make a statement of his policy on signing of public interest immunity certificates.
§ Mr. HowardNo central record is kept of public interest immunity certificates signed or not signed since 1979. My policy is to sign public interest immunity certificates, in accordance with my legal duty, where I am508W satisfied that there is a public interest in protecting documents or information from disclosure in legal proceedings. It is for the court, in any particular case; to weigh the public interest asserted in the certificate against the competing public interest in the due administration of justice.