§ Mr. WoodwardTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if(a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) civil servants saw the European Scrutiny Committee questions brief in advance of the appearance of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for North Swindon (Mr. Wills), before the Committee on 16 February. [77847]
§ Mr. Wills[holding answer 19 March 1999]: Neither Ministers, special advisers nor civil servants saw the European Scrutiny Committee questions brief in advance of my appearance. However, it has been a common but not universal practice over a long period for Committees to agree to give officials an indication of the broad areas they intend to cover at the hearing to ensure that the evidence session is as effective and productive as possible. I was informed of the likely broad areas of questioning in advance of the European Scrutiny Committee hearing on Tuesday 16 February.