TNAG-0525-FCO40-620-Visit-of-UK-Members-of-Parliament-(Defence-and-External-Affa-1975 — Page 245

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SELECT COLMITILE ON EXPENDITURE

DEFENCE AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS SUB-COMMIADE)

(KOV 72)

NOTES FOR MINISTRY OF DEFENCE WITNESSES

GENERAL GUIDANCE

1. Guidance for officials who have dealings with Parliamentary Select Committees is contained in the CSD memorandum at Annex A to these notes. The memorandum is applicable to the Excenditure Committee and should be read in conjunction with the following further guidance which relates specifically to Ministry of Defence dealings with the Sub-Committee on Defence and External Affairs.

THE SUB-COMMITTEE AND ITS SUPPORT

2. The current composition of the Sub Committee on Defence and External Affairs is given at Annex B. It is supported by its Clerk, who is a member of the House of Commons permanent stuff, the House of Commons Committee Office and by a specialist adviser on military affairs, Brigadier (Retd) K Hunt of the International Institute of Strategic Studies.

HOD LIAISON OFFICER TO THE EXPENDITURE COMMITTEE

VAS BENHAM

3. The MOD Liaison Officer to the Expenditure Committee is Nr AF H-Benning F1(N) MOD Main Building Ext 3012. General enquiries on Expenditure Committee matters and papers are dealt with by Section F1b(), Navy Department, Room 9113 MOD Main Building, Whitehall S1, telephone number MOD Main Building Ext 3016 and 7871.

TERMS OF REFERENCE

4. The essentials of the Expenditure Committee's terms of reference and approach to its work are set out in paragraphs 6 to 8 and 28 of Annex A. The Defence and External Affairs Sub-Committee takes a wide interpretation of the terms of reference and thus has maintained a close interest in the policies and operational/administrative considerations which lie behind figures for defence expenditure.

RELEASE CF INFORMATION

5.

Be General General guidance on the release of information to the Expenditure Committee and its Sub-Committees is contained in paragraphs 2 and 17 to 27 of Annex A. Paragraph 2 of the nex emphasises that although it is the duty of witnesses to be as helpful as possible to Select Committees, such limitations as are described are no more than are necessary to preserve constitutional proprieties and confidence which are essential to good government or to safeguard national security. Before giving evidence, MOD vitnecces will have prepared themselves, with the assistance of Divisions concerned, on the general line to be taken tad any

limitations or supply of cost detail. In general terms, the Department re-acts in a low key to requests for infor tien which in our opinion torders on policy issues of a long-term nature, or on matters which are coming under review or on which Ministers

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