§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the President of the Board of Trade 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 public interest immunity certificates.
§ Mr. HeseltineNo central record is kept of public interest immunity certificates signed since 1979.
The use of public interest immunity certificates is currently an issue before Lord Justice Scott's inquiry. I have already given my evidence to the inquiry.