Mr. Michael Ashcroft (Hansard, 19 July 1999)

§ Mr. Maples
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will hold an inquiry into the leaking of his Department's documents relating to Michael Ashcroft to the Press. [91938]

§ Mr. Tony Lloyd
An inquiry into the circumstances of the leak of protectively marked information to the press was instituted early on 13 July.

§ Mr. Maples
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if any of his special advisers prior to 13 July passed on to or discussed with a journalist the contents of documents referring to Michael Ashcroft. [91937]

§ Mr. Tony Lloyd
An inquiry was instituted on 13 July into the circumstances of the leak. We need to await the result of that inquiry.

§ Mr. Maples
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if any of his special advisers at any time prior to 13 July had access to, or were informed of, the contents of documents referring to Michael Ashcroft. [91936]

§ Mr. Tony Lloyd
An inquiry was instituted on 13 July into the circumstances of the leak. We need to await the result of that inquiry. The rules applying to Ministers as regards access to papers of a previous Administration also apply to special advisers.