§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Prime Minister on what date(a) discussions first took place between a Minister and the Hinduja brothers, (b) correspondence was sent by a Minister and (c) correspondence was received by a Minister concerning the possible sponsoring of the Faith Zone in the Millennium Dome by the Hinduja brothers; and if he will make a statement. [147176]
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Prime Minister by what date he has asked Sir Anthony Hammond to(a) commence his inquiry, (b) complete his inquiry and (c) submit his report to the Government. [147718]
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 25 January 2001]: Sir Anthony Hammond QC began his review on 25 January. His aim is to complete the work and to submit his report as quickly as possible, consistent with the need to conduct a thorough investigation. I understand that on the information currently available to Sir Anthony, he would hope to complete the review by the end of February.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Prime Minister (1) what the powers and terms of reference are of the inquiry by Sir Anthony Hammond which he announced on 24 January; [147716]
(2) what access Sir Anthony Hammond will have to Government papers and electronic records for the purpose of carrying out the inquiry announced on 24 January. [147717]
§ The Prime MinisterThe terms of reference of Sir Anthony Hammond QC's review, which I announced on Wednesday 24 January, were
To establish what approaches were made to the Home Office in 1998 in connection with the possibility of an application for naturalisation by Mr. S. P. Hinduja, and the full circumstances surrounding such approaches and the later grant of that application; and to report to the Prime Minister.Sir Anthony has no special powers. It is for him to decide how he carries out the review, what papers and files he needs to see to carry out his review and to whom he needs to speak. The Government will provide all the access that he needs.
§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Prime Minister if he will ensure that the notes of the meeting of 6 October 1998 between the then Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and Mr. S. P. Hinduja and Mr. G. P. Hinduja are placed in the Library and made available to the inquiry he announced on 24 January. [147818]
§ The Prime MinisterAll relevant papers will be made available to the inquiry being conducted by Sir Anthony Hammond QC including, if he wishes, the note of the meeting on 6 October 1998. The extent to which he discloses the content of papers will be a matter for him to 71W decide. Subject to that, it is not the normal practice of Government to release details of meetings with private individuals or companies.