The issue of how best to deal with corrections to Ministers’ statements in Hansard (other than minor corrections of the kind which apply to all Members’ speeches and for which there is a long established procedure) has been raised with my Office by hon. Members and by the Procedure Committee. There are a variety of ways in which inadvertent errors can be corrected which are appropriate for different circumstances, including written ministerial statements, pursuant questions or answers, and letters to hon. Members with copies placed in the Library.
However, these methods do not all involve the terms of the correction appearing in Hansard and there is no indication in the bound volume or web version of Hansard at the place of the original error that there has been a subsequent correction. I am in discussion with the Editor of Hansard as to how these issues can be addressed, taking into account technical and cost issues. The suggestion put forward by the hon. Member is one possible approach, to which I am giving active consideration.