§ The Marquess of Ailesburyasked the Chairman of Committees:
Whether the Senior Information Officer is (a) authorised or (b) encouraged to issue factual public statements in rebuttal of factually incorrect public criticisms.
§ The Chairman of Committees (Lord Boston of Faversham)The Senior Information Officer has a responsibility to monitor media coverage of the proceedings of the House. The postholder does not at present have authority to rebut factually incorrect public criticisms but draws them to the attention of the Clerk of the Parliaments and gives advice as to whether any response should be made. Any action taken would depend on the circumstances of each case. The appointment of a Senior Information Officer has been made on an experimental basis for a period of two years. The responsibilities of the post will be reviewed in due course in the light of experience gained.