§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many DA notices have been issued since May 1997; and if he will make a statement. [138747]
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§ Mr. SpellarDefence Advisory Notices are not issued in response to particular events. There are standing DA Notices to which editors and others refer as necessary. In 1997 there were six such standing notices. In May 2000 these were reduced by the independent Defence, Press and Broadcasting Advisory Committee to five, and the system was made less restrictive and the guidance more specific, to allow greater debate on national issues. Full details are in the House of Commons Library, and on www.dnotice.org.uk.