§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason his Department is not represented at the Saville Inquiry. [74476]
§ Mr. IngramThe Ministry of Defence (MOD) is not a party to the Bloody Sunday Inquiry because the MOD of today has neither a case to put nor a position to defend.
547WThe MOD has been represented by Counsel when invited to do so by the Tribunal to give assistance on specific matters. In addition, officials from the MOD have maintained a near-permanent presence at the hearings.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) who was responsible for the storage of photographs held by the Army legal team at the Widgery Inquiry; in what conditions and where these photographs were stored; when they will be produced for the Saville Inquiry; and what further photographs of Bloody Sunday are available; [74473]
(2) if he will list the (a) cinematic, (b) heli-telly and (c) other moving image photographic film clips of events on Bloody Sunday (i) available at the time of the Widgery Inquiry and (ii) discovered since; in what conditions and where these photographs were stored; who was responsible for their safekeeping; and which of these items have been (A) produced for the Saville Inquiry, (B) lost and (C) destroyed. [74474]
§ Mr. IngramThe Ministry of Defence has provided the Bloody Sunday Inquiry with written statements on the subjects of photographs and film, and an official of this Department will give evidence to the Inquiry in the near future.
It would therefore be inappropriate to comment separately on these matters, and I am withholding the information requested in accordance with Exemption 4 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what cost has been incurred by the legal representation of Soldier "L" at the Saville Inquiry. [74475]
§ Mr. IngramUp to 9 September 2002 the Ministry of Defence has incurred costs of £346,977.30 for the legal representation of Soldier "L" at the Saville Inquiry.