Ministers: Disclosure to Parliament

HL Deb 28 November 1996 vol 576 c30WA

Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answers given by Lord Howe on 13th November 1996 (WA 104-106), whether they will summarise the differences between the position before 7th November 1996 and thereafter in the definition of the duties of Ministers and Civil Servants as regards disclosure to Parliament.

Earl Howe

The Government have always attached the highest importance to the duty of Ministers and their civil servants to provide as full and accurate information as possible to Parliament, a point stressed inQuestions of Procedure for Ministers and in the Civil Service Code. The Government's response to the Public Service Committee's report on ministerial accountability and responsibility, published on 7th November, reinforced the Government's commitment to openness but made clear that in future decisions on whether or not to withhold information would be decided in accordance with and explained by reference to relevant statute or the Government's Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.