HC Deb 03 March 1994 vol 238 c846W
Mr. Alex Carlile

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why his Department issued a fresh public interest immunity certificate on the seventh application by Mr. Lorrain Osman for habeas corpus in January 1992; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Goodlad

A public interest immunity certificate was signed in the course of Lorrain Osman's seventh application for habeas corpus to reassert the public interest in non-disclosure of documents sought by Mr. Osman.

Mr. Alex Carlile

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will specify the reasons why he, on 26 October 1990, applied for a court order to strike out from affirmations made by Mr. Lorrain Osman all passages referring to nine FCO documents already disclosed to his advisers and the removal of copies of all nine documents from the possession of Mr. Osman and from the record of the court; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Goodlad

The order was applied for on the grounds that the documents in question were subject to public interest immunity and irrelevant.