HL Deb 23 April 2001 vol 625 c6WA
Lord Stoddart of Swindon

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 8 February concerning the practice of referring to services in the public domain when providing factual information in Written Answers in the Official Report (WA 115), whether they will reconsider their position in the light of their concern and disquiet expressed around the House about the treatment of Written Answers during the discussion on the Lord Renton's starred Question on the subject (H.L. Deb., 12 February, cols. 6–9). [HL749]

Lord Falconer of Thoroton

The Government are committed both to fully answering all questions put to them and to the better use of electronic communication, and have noted the concerns of the House. The Government recognises that when referring to other published material in Written Answers it may well be appropriate to include the more significant elements of the material with appropriate brevity in the Written Answer. This will depend on the merits of each individual case.