§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Answer by the Lord President on 13 October (Official Report, cols. 600-01) whether it is within the discretionary powers of the Government to decide to make an exception to the convention that legal advice from the Law Officers is not publicly disclosed. [HL4894]
§ The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos):I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given by the Attorney-General in response to his Question (HL 4893). There have been a few cases in which exceptions have been made to the convention that legal advice from the Law Officers is not publicly disclosed. Exceptions are, however, only very rarely made, since otherwise this would undermine the purpose of the convention, which is to enable the Government, like everyone else, to obtain full and frank legal advice in confidence.