§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all those in his Department who have authority to issue public interest immunity certificates; how many such certificates have been issued in each of the last five years; and what were the main reasons for them. [1426]
§ Sir George YoungA claim to public interest immunity relating to departmental documents or information is normally made by the appropriate Minister. No certificates signed by Ministers in my Department have been produced in proceedings in the last five years. Certificates were signed in 1990 and 1992 and in relation to them. I refer to my reply to the hon. Member for Clwyd, South-West (Mr. Jones) on 16 October 1995,Official Report, column 91.