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to be sufficient, however, departments should take steps to ensure

that classified information in any evidence given by witnesses from

these bodies is protected.

34.

Departments will also wish to ensure as far as possible that non-

departmental bodies for which they have responsibility show them

written evidence or replies in draft before submitting it. The

purpose of this 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 there

being no questions of security involved. It is usual practice for

sponsor departments and nationalised industries to see each other's

initial memoranda to the select Committee on Nationalised Industries.

Liaison Officers

35. Departments who are invited to give evidence to a Committee may

wish to consider appointing a liaison officer, on the lines of those

appointed for enquiries by the old Estimates Committee. He would be

the channel for all communications between the department and the

Committee and its Clerk. The Clerks to the Committees will usually be

glad to talk informally to departments about their Committees' work and

to co-operate by, for example, providing the departments most concerned

with the confidential proofs of evidence taken by the Committee.

Committee staff

36. The Committees on their side have developed the practice of

appointing research workers or advisers and have funds for this

purpose. The Expenditure Committee has its own research staff.

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