Letter from Rt Hon Alan Williams MP, Chairman
of the Liaison Committee (P 11)
SUB JUDICE
AND SELECT
COMMITTEES
At the meeting of the Liaison Committee on 20
October, John Denham, Chairman of the Home Affairs Committee,
described to us the problems faced by his Committee in organising
a public evidence session on "counter-terrorism and community
relations in the aftermath of the London bombings" because
of the implications of the House's sub judice resolution.
After discussion, in which Tony Wright took part
to describe some examples of the Public Administration Select
Committee's evidence from the Ombudsman on matters subject to
judicial review, where the resolution had not prevented the desired
exchanges, the Liaison Committee agreed to ask the Procedure Committee
to look again at the sub judice resolution in respect of
committees. John set out the issues well in a note which he submitted
to us, which I enclose (not printed). We are of course aware of
your Report, not yet debated in the House, which stops short of
explicit guidance to us.
We would be grateful if your Committee could re-examine
the issue and, as John proposes, in particular "the role
of Committee Chairmen, how this relates to the Speaker, and in
which circumstances it would be appropriate for Chairmen to exercise
the `Chair's discretion"'.
October 2005
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