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FROM: P J BACON, PRU
DATE:
CC:
1 MAY 1986
PS/Mr Eggar
Information Dept
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Consular Dept
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"Ahn 3401
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
- 8 MAY 1986
BRIEFING ARRANGEMENTS FOR PARLIAMENT
1. At last week's meeting of the Parliamentary Liaison Group and I understand at a recent PUS's morning meeting, Richard Ryder raised the question of the parliamentary briefing arrangements for the Libyan crisis which he felt might contain some lessons for the future.
2. At the PLG Mr Ryder expressed the view, which was generally endorsed, that the briefing exercise had on the whole been very successful. There had been two elements: the background briefing prepared for the information of backbench MPs participating in the debate on Wednesday 16 April, which although well prepared had arrived rather late; and the "Dear Colleague" letter from the Secretary of State to backbenchers setting out the Government's position. The decision to send the letter was taken at the Secretary of State's meeting of FCO Ministers on 16 April, it was prepared by Mr Houston and Mr Ryder and distributed on 17 April. Its purpose, which it appears to have served admirably, was both to inform Members and to arm them with a readily available handout for use in response to constituents' enquiries. Mr Ryder commented that it had been very difficult to obtain the list of Libyan terrorist activities, which had been an essential element of the exercise. He understood the other pressures on the Department at the time but nevertheless felt that the need could have been anticipated. thought we should consider whether there was scope for ensuring in future, where the emergence of a crisis could to some extent be foreseen, that the preparation of parliamentary briefing was undertaken well in advance. This would save time and effort in the long run, as it
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