Dr Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has discussed the Government’s request to subpoena recordings from the Boston College oral history project with the US Secretary of State. [106233]
Alistair Burt: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), has not discussed the issue of the Boston College oral history project with the US Secretary of State. In line with the Government’s bilateral treaty with the United States on mutual legal assistance, all requests for assistance are transmitted via the Home Office.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Boston College
Dr Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 16 April 2012 from the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Official Report, column 49W, on Boston College, what discussions she had with (a) the Police Service of Northern Ireland, (b) the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, (c) the Northern Ireland Justice Minister, (d) the Prime Minister and (e) the Attorney General (i) prior to and (ii) after the Government’s request to subpoena recordings from the Boston College oral history project. [106235]
Nick Herbert: Home Office Ministers have regular meetings with ministerial colleagues and others as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government’s practice to provide details of such meetings.
Previously:
House of Commons Written Answers 16 April 2012: Northern Ireland: Boston College
NORTHERN IRELAND
Boston College
Dr Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has held discussions with the US Secretary of State regarding the Government’s request to subpoena recordings from the Boston college oral history project. [102545]
Mr Paterson: I have not held discussions with the US Secretary of State regarding the request to subpoena recordings from the Boston college oral history project.
Dr Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the (a) Police Service of Northern Ireland and (b) the Northern Ireland Department of Justice on the Government’s request to subpoena recordings from the Boston college oral history project (i) prior to and (ii) subsequent to that request being made. [102546]
Mr Paterson: I have not had discussions with either the Police Service of Northern Ireland or the Northern Ireland Department of Justice on the request to subpoena recordings from the Boston college oral history project. My Department is not routinely informed of such requests for mutual legal assistance. In line with the Government’s bilateral treaty with the United States on mutual legal assistance, all requests for assistance are transmitted via the Home Office.
Dr Alasdair McDonnell, MP for South Belfast, is the leader of the SDLP.
See previously:
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Owen Paterson discusses Boston College Case
(March 24, 2012 interview transcript and October 29 2011 interview transcript)
Irish Americans Meet Paterson in NY
(November 9, 2011)
Boston College Subpoena News 