§ Mr. WelshTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what instructions he has given(a) Ministers and (b) officials regarding accepting invitations to give evidence to Scottish Parliament committees; and what his policy is in relation to such invitations. [126671]
432W
§ Dr. Reid[holding answer 20 June 2000]Devolution Guidance Note 12, available in the Library, provides guidance for Ministers and officials of UK Departments who are invited to give evidence to Committees of the Scottish Parliament. I have not issued further guidance within the Scotland Office. Any invitations to give evidence to Ministers in my Department would be considered in the light of DGN 12.
§ Mr. WelshTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the occasions when(a) ministers and (b) officials from his Department have been invited to give evidence to Scottish Parliament committees; how many have been accepted; how many have been refused; if he will give the reasons for each refusal; and what was the subject matter to be raised on each occasion. [126672]
§ Dr. Reid[holding answer 20 June 2000]I have been invited to give evidence to the European Committee twice, about the European Structural Funds. I have declined because the primary requirement of accountability for UK Ministers is to the UK Parliament, and because I had received similar invitations from the Scottish Affairs Select Committee.