HC Deb 22 February 1996 vol 272 cc239-40W
Mrs. Golding

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make changes in the personnel of his Department following criticisms contained in the report of the Scott inquiry. [16640]

Mr. Jonathan Evans

No.

Mr. Janner

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what communication he received from the secretary of the Scott inquiry concerning the time needed by the Opposition parties to scrutinise the Scott report; on what date he received such communications; what was the nature of the contents of letters; and if he will deposit copies of those letters in the Library. [16637]

Mr. Evans

I have received no communication from the secretary of the Scott inquiry concerning the time needed by Opposition parties to scrutinise the Scott report.

Mr. Madden

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department at what hour and minute of which day the report of the Scott inquiry was delivered to his office. [16500]

Mr. Evans

The report of the Scott inquiry was delivered to my office at approximately 3 o'clock on the afternoon on Friday 16 February.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he first saw the report of the Scott inquiry. [16586]

Mr. Evans

I first saw the report of the Scott inquiry after it was published.

Mr. Janner

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how he responded to communications received from Mr. Christopher Muttukumaru; what were the dates of the letters; and if he will deposit copies in the Library. [16639]

Mr. Evans

I have received no communication from Christopher Muttukumaru.

Mrs. Jane Kennedy

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many persons and at what level in his Department were involved in considering the Government's response to the report of the Scott inquiry. [16643]

Mr. Evans

Access to the report itself was restricted to a very small number of officials in the main Departments concerned in accordance with the procedures agreed with the Scott inquiry. However, the Scott report covered a wide range of policy issues and a number of other officials will have contributed to preparation of the Government's response without sight of the report. It is not therefore possible to give their number or grades.

Mrs. Kennedy

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how much he estimates was the cost of the allocation of persons in his Department to the consideration of the Government's response to the Scott report. [16645]

Mr. Evans

Access to the report itself was restricted to a very small number of officials in the main Departments concerned in accordance with the procedures agreed with the Scott inquiry. However, the Scott report covered a wide range of policy issues and a number of other officials will have contributed to preparation of the Government's response without sight of the report. It is not therefore possible to give the cost of the work.

Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the members of his Department who saw the report of the Scott inquiry before it was presented to the House; and when each saw the report. [16531]

Mr. Evans

No member of this Department saw Sir Richard Scott's report before it was presented to the House.