HC Deb 10 June 2002 vol 386 c1014W
Nick Harvey

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her Department's policy is on releasing reports and documents that(a) it and (b) its agencies, have commissioned; how long after receiving reports and documents that her Department has commissioned her Department publishes them; what her Department's policy is on announcing the publication of reports and documents it commissions; and if she will make a statement. [59602]

Dr. Howells

My Department will consider the general publication of commissioned reports and documents where there is a recognised interest in the subject and where there are no bars to a wider publication on grounds of confidentiality or sensitivity.

In general my Department aims to publish material we commission and all such publications are available through the Department's website, www.culture.gov.uk and, where appropriate, HMSO.

The time between receipt of a document and its wider publication will depend upon the nature of the document but the intention would be to avoid any unnecessary delays.

Documents may be accompanied by a press release or will be flagged up on the Department's website. The website is currently being redeveloped and the new site will make publications even easier to find.

This is an area which my Department is currently reviewing as part of our commitment to Freedom of Information and a statement of our policy will accompany the issue of my Department's publication scheme in the autumn.

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