§ Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his Department received a letter from the lawyers of Lord Ashcroft and Carlisle Holdings regarding remarks the Secretary of State for International Development is alleged to have made at the World Trade Organisation meeting in Seattle in 1999; when his Department responded to the letter; if he will place copies of the correspondence in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [4055]
§ Mr. MacShaneLetters were received from solicitors for Lord Ashcroft complaining, inter alia, of remarks alleged to have been made by the Secretary of State for International Development (although these did not refer specifically to the World Trade Organisation meeting in Seattle in 1999). The legal adviser in my Department replied on my right hon. Friend's behalf on 26 January 2001. A copy of this letter has been placed in the Library. Release of the letters sent by Lord Ashcroft's solicitors is a matter for him.
§ Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if officials in his Department have been disciplined for passing documents relating to Michael Ashcroft and his activities in Belize toThe Times and The Guardian in July 1999 and December 2000. [4057]
§ Mr. MacShaneIt has not proved possible to identify the person or persons responsible for passing the official documents referred to by the hon. Member toThe Times or The Guardian newspapers themselves. However, during the course of the investigation into The Times leak it was ascertained that an official of this Department had passed classified documents to an unauthorised person. These documents included those which appeared in The Times. The official concerned has been disciplined.