advisable to discuss the lines of evidence with the witnesses before the hearing. The Department may also wish to seek the Committee's agreement to their being represented at the hearing; whether this is allowed is entirely a matter for the Committee.
$3. Committees may occasionally call for evidence from commercial firms, particularly those handling Government contracts. A contractor is normally prohibited from publishing without written consent the details of Government contracts. Departments may have to discuss with firms how far the latter can provide a Committee with a general picture of their work without
Sensitive going into the details of specific contracts. information of a commercial nature should not be disclosed (see paragraph 30(v)).
54.
The normal relationship between Departments and non- departmental bodies or private firms may be sufficient to ensure an awareness on the part of witnesses from these bodies of the need to deal with the Committee's enquiries in a manner consonant with the rules about the security of classified information etc. To the extent that this is thought not to be sufficient, however, Departments should take steps to ensure that classified information in any evidence given by witnesses from these bodies is protected (see also paragraphs 40-41 about reports commissioned by Departments).
55. Departments may also wish to ask non-departmental bodies for which they have responsibility to show them written evidence The purpose of this or replies in draft before submitting them. would be consultative, under the normal arrangements which may be expected to exist between Departments and such bodies for consultation on matters of importance; the bodies would, of course, remain free to express their independent views, subject to their statutory or contractual responsibilities and subject to
It is usual there being no questions of security involved.
This
practice for sponsor Departments and nationalised industries to
It should be noted that the see each other's initial memoranda. Procedure Committee has recommended that memoranda by Government Departments and non-departmental bodies should include a declaration of the persons and organisations with whom consultations have taken place prior to their submission. recommendation should be drawn to the attention of non- departmental bodies when such consultations take place; and departmental memoranda which have been shown in draft to non- departmental bodies should include a declaration of the bodies concerned.
DEPARTMENTAL REPLIES TO COMPLITTEE REPORTS
Publication of Committee Reports
36.
Interested Departments and the Press normally receive advance copies of the Reports of Select Committees 48 hours before publication; the power for Committees to provide these is
While Committees are usually co- embodied in Standing Orders. operative over this, such advance issue is at their discretion
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