Scott Inquiry

The Scott Inquiry was established in November 1992 following the collapse of the Matrix Churchill prosecution, in which three company executives faced charges related to exports to Iraq. The inquiry found that government policy on defence exports to Iraq had been modified without Parliament being informed, and that Public Interest Immunity certificates had been used to withhold evidence that could have assisted the defendants' case. Sir Richard Scott's report, published in February 1996, ran to five volumes and over 1,800 pages. While the inquiry made no formal recommendations, its findings led to significant reforms in two key areas. The Export Control Act 2002 placed the export licensing regime on a statutory footing, requiring annual reports to Parliament and establishing the Committees on Arms Export Controls for ongoing scrutiny. The approach to Public Interest Immunity was reformed, with new guidance requiring ministers to balance the public interest in disclosure against potential harm rather than claiming blanket immunity for classes of documents. The inquiry also contributed to ongoing debates about ministerial accountability and the relationship between government and Parliament. The government survived the Commons vote on the report by 320 votes to 319. The Scott Inquiry remains a significant reference point in discussions about government transparency, particularly regarding the communication of policy changes to Parliament and the use of secrecy provisions in criminal proceedings.