Summoning of Named Officials
10. Officials appearing before Select Committees do so on behalf of their Ministers. It is customary, therefore, for Ministers to decide which officials (including members of the
Select Armed Services) should appear to give evidence. Committees have in the past generally accepted this position. Should a Committee invite a named official to appear, the Minister concerned, if he did not wish that official to represent him, might suggest that another official could more appropriately do so, or that he himself should give evidence to the Committee. If a Committee insisted on a particular official appearing before they could issue a them whether serving in the UK or overseas - formal order for his attendance. In such an event the official
In all circumstances, would have to appear before the Committee. the official would remain subject to Ministerial instructions as to how to answer questions.
Appearances Before Committees of Other Countries
11. Evidence may be requested from UK officials by Parliamentary Committees, and their equivalents, of other countries. Such requests should be discussed with the FCO and referred to Ministers. If it is decided that officials should attend, evidence should be restricted to factual matters and avoid anything with which the Minister might disagree. Separate guidance on appearances before Committees of the European Parliament is issued by the Cabinet Office.
External Expert Witnesses In Official Team
12.
If Departments wish to include any external experts in the team of officials giving evidence, the Clerk should be consulted with a full explanation of the reasons for the inclusion, Most Committees are willing to accept departmental requests of this kind, but they are not obliged to do so.
Open Sessions
13. Select Committees usually admit the public and Press to hearings, and it is possible that proceedings may be broadcast. Departments may wish to ascertain from the Clerk to the Committee beforehand whether particular proceedings are to be recorded for broadcasting. Arrangements for the treatment of confidential information in oral evidence are referred to in paragraphs 49-51 below. Although the broadcasting authorities, not the Select Committees, control what recorded material is broadcast, it is up to the Select Committee to decide whether or not a session is a public or closed one, recording, of course, not being permitted in the latter.
5