TNAG-0525-FCO40-620-Visit-of-UK-Members-of-Parliament-(Defence-and-External-Affa-1975 — Page 246

_----"-------

RESTRICTAD covering CONFIDENTIAL

have not yet reached a decision.

b.

Classified information As stated in paragrah 21, special arrangements have been agreed whereby information classified up to and including SECRET may be made available,if release is otherwise appropriate, to the Defence and External Affairs Sub Committee when this is relevant to the Sub Committee's enquiries. Aelease of information with a higher security classification than SECRET is subject to the prior approval of Defence Ministers.

C.

NATO Classified information NATO classified information graded up to and including TC SECT may be released if it is relevant to the Sub-Committee's enquiry. The guiding criterion for release is the extent to which the classified information is essential for a full understanding of British defence policies and the role of British forces in the strategy, plans and force structures of NATO.

It is not usual to provide NATO classified information relating specifically to a NATO ally when the information originates from that ally.

d. IN CONFIDENCE information For Expenditure Committee purposes information bearing one of the 'IN CONFIDENCE' range of classifications is subject to the same treatment and procedures as that bearing a military security classification.

C.

Papers for the Sub-Committee It is important that all written information prepared for retention by the Sub Committee, including formal written evidence, supplementary papers arising from written and oral evidence, briefing notes and information on any service matter requested by or volunteered to the Sub Committee, its members and supporting staff, should be sent to the MOD Liaison Officer to the Expenditure Committee for clearance in MOD and forwarding by MOD to the House of Commons.

f. Contact outside formal hearings Witnesses, briefing and conducting officers and others likely to engage in conversation with members of the Sub Committee in less formal circumstances are reminded that interesting topics of discussion are frequently followed up during formal oral examination or by formal correspondence.

FORMAL WRITTEN AND ORAL EVIDENCE

6.

a.

Written evidence Requests for written evidence are normally made by the Clerk to the Sub- Committee to the MCD Liaison Officer, or by members of the Sub Committee to witnesses during the course of formal oral examination. All written evidence should be presented via the MOD Liaison Officer (Please see paragraph 5e above). always an advantage for careful thought to be given to the security classification appropriate to written evidence because apparently- unjustified classification quite frequently invites criticism and a request for explanation. Where a paper is properly given a general security classification higher than that appropriate to some of its sections, it is helpful for those sections to be identified. Unclassified written evidence is published periodically at the discretion of the Sub Committce.

2

RESTRICTED covering CONFIDENTIAL