Justice and Security Bill [HL]

Debate between Lord Butler of Brockwell and Lord Geddes

Monday 19th November 2012 Lords Chamber

[Lord Butler of Brockwell]

My Lords, Amendment 13 stands in my name and in the name of my colleague, the noble Marquess, Lord Lothian. I move it only to give the Minister the opportunity to move government Amendment 14. Amendment 13 seeks to leave out paragraph 3(3)(b) of the schedule which states that a Minister may decide that information should not be disclosed if,

“it is information of such a nature that, if the Minister were requested to produce it before a Departmental Select Committee of the House of Commons, the Minister would consider (on grounds which were not limited to national security) it proper not to do so”.

This was rather a wide power for the Government to withhold information from the Intelligence and Security Committee.

Since that amendment was tabled, the Government have tabled an amendment making it clear that, in exercising this power, the Minister must be guided by regard to what are known as the Osmotherly rules—that is, the normal rules about what a civil servant can disclose to a Select Committee. My colleagues on the Intelligence and Security Committee and I are content with that limitation of this power. I beg to move.

[The Deputy Speaker (Lord Geddes)]

I believe that the noble Lord will now want to withdraw the amendment.

[Lord Butler of Brockwell]

My Lords, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment.