Clerk to the Committee:

The Deputy asked me about this matter and I discussed it with the legal adviser. As it will be a private meeting, there will be no transcript. My advice is that this is well-established parliamentary practice not just for the benefit of members, but also for the protection of the witness. A recording will be available to me as clerk for preparing a report. That recording will allow us to clarify any issue that a member has. The strong advice given to me is that we need to protect the witness as much as possible. As he has asked for the meeting to be in private, his evidence will remain confidential and be treated appropriately.