TNAG-1841-FCO40-2616-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 50

Council and Leader of the House, (see Annex C). This letter refers (among other limitations on the provision of information) to "information affecting national security, which would normally be withheld from the House in the national interest". Guidance to Departments on the release of classified information to Committees is given in the manual "Security in Government Departments". This manual is the overriding authority; what follows must be read subject to its guidance. Officials must not disclose information which the manual says must be withheld; they should consult their Departmental Security Officers if in doubt.

Officials should not give evidence about or discuss the following topics:

30.

1.

In order to preserve the collective responsibility of Ministers, the advice given to Ministers by their Departments should not be disclosed, nor should information about interdepartmental exchanges on policy issues, about the level at which decisions were taken or the manner in which a Minister has consulted his colleagues. Information should not be given about Cabinet Committees or their decisions (see paragraphs 31-33).

ii.

iii.

Advice given by a Law Officer (see paragraph 36).

The private affairs of individuals or institutions on which any information held by Ministers or their officials has been supplied in confidence (including such information about individuals which is available to the Government by virtue of their being engaged in or considered for public employment).

Officials should also, where possible, avoid giving written evidence about or discussing the following matters. Where appropriate further guidance is provided in the succeeding paragraphs:

iv.

Questions in the field of political controversy (see paragraphs 34-35).

V.

Sensitive information of a commercial or economic nature, eg knowledge which could affect the financial

ture markets, without prior consultation with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, sensitive information relating to the commercial operations of nationalised industries, or to contracts; commercial or economic information which has been given to the Government in confidence, unless the advance consent of the persons concerned has been obtained (see paragraph 53 for the provision of information by Government contractors.)

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