HC Deb 15 September 2003 vol 410 cc520-1W
Llew Smith

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list those categories of information that have been provided to the Hutton Inquiry which are not normally made available(a) to Parliamentary Select Committees and (b) in response to Parliamentary Questions; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for the different approaches to information disclosure. [128596]

The Prime Minister

The Government are committed to co-operating fully with the Hutton Inquiry. Relevant papers are being provided to the Inquiry. The decision on which papers to make public is a matter for the Inquiry. In respect of a small number of papers, there may be issues about the need to keep certain information confidential, for instance, because of national security. Where necessary, the papers are provided to the Inquiry on the understanding that certain text will be suitably redacted before being made public.

Information provided in response to PQs and Select Committees will continue to be decided as appropriate in accordance with the Ministerial Code, the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information and Information and Departmental Evidence to Select Committees.

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