HC Deb 15 March 1994 vol 239 cc597-8W
Mr. Peter Bottomley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what response the Government have made to the recommendations of the Royal Commission on criminal justice concerning public interest immunity.

Mr. Maclean

The Royal Commission made a number of recommendations about the disclosure of information held by the prosecution, including the proposal that criminal cases where the disclosure of sensitive material is an issue should be dealt with only by High Court or nominated circuit judges—recommendation 123. As stated in the interim Government response to the Royal Commission, placed in the Library of the House on 22 February, the Government are still considering these recommendations.

Mr. Darling

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many public interest immunity certificates he has signed in each year since 1990.

Mr. Howard

No central record is kept of public interest immunity certificates covering the years 1990 to 9 April 1992. Since that time, I and my predecessor have signed 10 certificates.