Parliamentary activity

That this House notes that Lord Butler of Brockwell, as Cabinet Secretary, told the Scott Inquiry when asked about the less than full information being provided in parliamentary answers, 'You have to be selective about the facts', and commented to the Scott Inquiry, on parliamentary answers, 'It was an accurate but incomplete answer. The purpose of it was to give an answer which itself was true. It did not give the full picture. It was half an answer'; and believes that this attitude shown by...

That this House notes with dismay that the Attorney General during question time on 21st March, Official Report, columns 13-14, refused to give substantive replies on public interest immunity certificates to the honourable Members for Birmingham, Perry Bar, Bolsover and Norwood on the grounds that he was to give evidence on this matter to Lord Justice Scott's inquiry on 24th March; further notes the Attorney General's refusal to assist Parliament was subsequently raised on a point of order by...

That this House is disappointed and disturbed by the dismissive contempt shown towards Parliament by the head of the Home Civil Service, Sir Robin Butler, in his evidence before the Scott Inquiry on 9th February; is outraged by the view expressed by Sir Robin Butler that 'half an answer could be accurate when replying to Parliamentary Questions'; believes such an attitude from the top sets an appalling example to more junior civil servants in their job of drafting replies to parliamentary que...

That this House notes that on the announcement of the terms of reference of the judicial inquiry into the export of arms and other military equipment to Iraq made by the Attorney General on 10th November, the honourable Members for Chesterfield and Linlithgow, respectively, sought assurances that parliamentary accountability by Ministers over questions on military sales to Iraq would still be paramount, Official Report, columns 755-6; and is therefore extremely concerned that a succession of ...