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production of departmental files or Cabinet Committee papers. it is not impossible, however, that they may ask for them. Except in the case of the PAC, departments should consult the Civil Service Department before meeting or refusing any request by a Committee to see or have quoted verbatim any interdepartmental correspondence or internal departmental minutes. In the special case of the select Committee on the Parliamentary Commissioner, it may be necessary to quote from such documents in connection with Parliamentary Commissioner cases. In no circumstances should any Committee be given a Cabinet Committee paper or extract from it, or be told of discussions in a Cabinet Committee. Further, there should not be disclosed to a Committee any advice that may have been given by the Law Officers. There is a well-established convention that the advice which Law Officers give to Ministers is confidential to them. It is only when Law Officers expressly authorise the disclosure of that advice or themselves report to or advise Parliament or a Committee that such advice is revealed.
See also paragraph 26
below.
13. In the case of the Select Committee on the Parliamentary Commissioner, requests which would amount to the "re-trial of a Parliamentary Commissioner case (which may include requests for the attendance of particular officials) should be refused.
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14. Committees' requests for information should not be met regardless of cost or of diversion of effort from more important matters. It might prove necessary to decline requests which appeared to involve
excessive coats. It may be necessary for a department to consult
their Minister if a particular request seems to involve an unreason... able amount of extra work.
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