Conduct Of The Chief Secretary To The Treasury And Threats Of Legal Action

EDM number 949 in 1994-95, proposed by Harry Cohen on 31/03/1995.

That this House notes reports that the Chief Secretary to the Treasury is considering legal action over allegations that he knew of an arms contract for weapons to go eventually to Iran; recalls that the former Defence Minister, Alan Clarke, when accused of similar misdeeds, threatened to sue a national newspaper but subsequently did not do so; considers that this is a device which can be misused by Members of this House to avoid the relevant issue being discussed; further notes that, in this current case, relevant documentation, including minutes of meetings of the company concerned, has been impounded and held by Departments of State and perhaps the Security Service; notes how the state was prepared to allow company directors to be prosecuted and possibly imprisoned by withholding vital evidence, and that this matter is subject to consideration by the Scott Inquiry; and therefore is concerned whether any suggested legal action by the Chief Secretary would be conducted on the basis of the full availability of all information, or fairness.

This motion has been signed by a total of 22 MPs.