HC Deb 14 July 1998 vol 316 cc174-6W
Mr. Keith Simpson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many copies of the Strategic Defence Review were sent outside the main building of his Department in sealed envelopes before Wednesday 8 July; and when they were sent; [50459]

(2) which (a) Government departments, (b) individual Ministers, (c) special advisers and (d) non-Governmental organisations received copies of the Strategic Defence Review before 12.30 pm on Wednesday 8 July. [50460]

Mr. George Robertson

It is not our practice to comment in detail on matters of this kind while a formal investigation is in progress.

Mr. Keith Simpson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what terms(a) his Department's head of public relations and (b) any of her staff discussed the contents of the Strategic Defence Review before 12.30 pm on Wednesday 8 July, with (a) members of the press and (b) other persons outside his Department. [50457]

Mr. George Robertson

In her dealings with the Press my Director of Information Strategy and News, and her staff, have responded to all inquiries about the Strategic Defence Review (which have all been from the Press) under the normal terms. Until the Press Conference held on Wednesday 8 July on an embargo, lock-in basis, they provided factual information about the background, processes, and the development of the thinking of the defence review. Such information was also set out by me in two major speeches, the BBC documentary on the processes underlying the Strategic Defence Review, and in answers to the House prior to publication of the White Paper on 8 July.

Mr. Keith Simpson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the name and position of the individual or individuals carrying out the inquiry into the leaking of the Strategic Defence Review; when he expects the inquiry to be concluded; and how he intends to report the conclusions of the inquiry to the House. [50461]

Mr. George Robertson

The individual who will conduct the inquiry, by custom, is a member of a panel of investigators which the Cabinet Office draw upon to conduct investigations. Its members are in the main distinguished and senior retired public servants. A member of the panel, who will not be named, has been selected by the Cabinet Office to investigate the leaking of the Strategic Defence Review (SDR). The inquiry will be conducted with all possible speed. Once the conclusions of the inquiry have been presented to me, I will decide how to report them to the House.

Mr. Keith Simpson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which of his special advisers, and on what terms, discussed the contents of the Strategic Defence Review before 12.30 pm on Wednesday 8 July, with(a) members of the press, (b) political lobbyists and (c) special advisers to the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer or the Foreign Secretary. [50458]

Mr. George Robertson

In the normal course of government business, both special advisers would have discussed the contents of the Strategic Defence Review with special advisers to the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Foreign Secretary. Over the course of the Review, both special advisers would have briefed members of the Press and on occasions, political lobbyists on the background processes and emerging themes of the Review but not on its detailed conclusions in line with the requirements of propriety.