Scott Inquiry (Hansard, 6 March 1996)

§ Mr. Llew Smith
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what considerations underlay the choice of extracts from the Scott report cited at the top half of the second page of the press release 26/96 issued by his Department on 15 February. [18553]

§ Mr. Kenneth Clarke
They demonstrated that the allegations of deliberately misleading Parliament levelled against my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary before publication of the Scott report were not endorsed by Sir Richard Scott.

§ Mr. Smith
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the memorandum submitted by his Department in appendix A in volume V of the Scott report, for what reasons he included guns in the first heading on the third page of his departmental press release 26/96 issued on 15 February. [18587]

§ Mr. Clarke
The items included in parentheses were chosen as good examples in general of lethal equipment.

§ Mrs. Golding
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make changes in the personnel of his Department following criticisms contained in the report of the Scott inquiry. [16570]

§ Mr. Clarke
[holding answer 22 February 1996]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 22 February 1996, Official Report, column 239.

§ Mr. Allen
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultations he had with the Secretary to the Cabinet concerning the Government's response to the Scott inquiry; and where and when such consultations took place. [16608]

§ Mr. Clarke
[holding answer 22 February 1996]: Successive Governments have not disclosed the nature or the specific sources of the advice that they receive from the civil service.

§ Mr. Tony Banks
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [16536]

§ Mr. Clarke
[holding answer 22 February 1996]: A small number of civil servants in my Departments had access to the report prior to publication for the purpose of preparing the Government's response. Such access was in accordance with the conditions laid down by the Scott inquiry.