Blunkett 'slaps ban' on terror inquiries

The government has postponed a terror attack rehearsal

David Blunkett has banned Home Office officials from giving evidence to two parliamentary inquiries into Britain's readiness against terror attacks, it has emerged.

The House of Commons committees on defence and science are both carrying out inquiries, and both are expected to produce critical reports later this year.

A Home Office source told the PA news agency on Sunday that Mr Blunkett had written to both committees earlier this month to tell them that counter-terrorism was not a matter for MPs.

It was instead, he said, a matter for the Parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee - which meets in secret and reports direct to the prime minister.

Officials would therefore not be allowed to testify before them on any issue involving classified material.

The Intelligence and Security Committee is entitled to see secret material and ensure that the material stays secret

Home Office

Science and Technology Committee chairman Ian Gibson criticised the move.

The decision would make it "very, very difficult" for his committee to complete its report on the scientific response to terrorism on time, he said.

"I don't see any reason why they don't want to talk to us, given that if it is secret we can go into closed session or accept written evidence," he said.

"They say the Intelligence and Security Committee, which reports direct to the prime minister, should handle these issues, but we disagree.

"We believe it is the committees that should be asking the questions. It is our job to ask questions."

'Classified'

Dr Gibson has written to Mr Blunkett - and to Transport Secretary Alistair Darling, who slapped a similar ban on evidence from London Underground officials - asking for a meeting to explain the reasons behind the decision.

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He The Home Office source said: "To answer properly the questions the committees want to ask would involve disclosing classified material.

"These matters are outside the remit of these committees. We are more than happy to make information available to the Intelligence and Security Committee...

"That is the appropriate body who are entitled to see secret material and ensure that the material stays secret."

Bruce George, chairman of the Defence Committee, confirmed that it was "in discussions" with Mr Blunkett about the appearance of witnesses in its inquiry into defence and security in the UK.

But he would not divulge details of their correspondence.

On Saturday the government insisted it was doing "everything appropriate" to deal with a major terrorist attack.

Home Office minister Lord Falconer said a rehearsal of emergency procedures in the UK, as have been staged in Australia and the US, would go ahead as "as soon as practical".