HL Deb 01 April 2004 vol 659 c177WA
Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Filkin on 15 March (WA 21), what "actual damage" would be caused if the advice given by the Attorney-General and other legal advisers about the legality of the invasion of Iraq were now to be published. [HL1952]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (Lord Filkin)

The question of whether actual damage would be caused by release of the advice of the Attorney-General and other government legal advisers about the legality of the military action against Iraq will be considered by the time the documents are due for transfer to the National Archives. This will take place before they are 30 years old, and any judgment will be made in the light of the circumstances at that time.