To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will reconsider the Government’s practice on the disclosure of information on the attendance at and activities of Cabinet Committees. (181102)

It has been the practice of successive governments not to disclose the details of attendance at and activities of Cabinet Committees.

My hon. Friend the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Mr. Wills) announced on 25 October 2007, Official Report, column 19WS, that the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor have asked Paul Dacre, working with Professor David Cannadine and Sir Joseph Pilling, to review the length of time after which public records are released, currently 30 years. Any changes made as a result of this review may affect the release of details of attendance at and discussions within Cabinet Committees in the relevant time period.

The review is now in progress and will report to the Prime Minister and the Lord Chancellor by summer 2008.