Sir John Major:

I do understand and no doubt if I were in Mr. Finucane's shoes, I would raise exactly the same kind of thing, given the impact that it had on his family. I am trying to make two points. First, I made clear that I agreed to attend the committee but that I could only discuss what I had been responsible for before 1997. I cannot really comment on legislation that I have not been part of framing, and which I have not read in full. I am not on the committee discussing that legislation. I am not in the House of Commons hearings. I have no detailed knowledge of it whatsoever. The only knowledge I have of the Bill is the fact that it is going through in the House of Lords and such small amounts as have occasionally appeared in parts of the British media.

I would be commenting from a considerable lack of knowledge and that is not a safe thing for anyone to do. Either I could say something that would cause deep offence, which I certainly would not wish to do on subject such as this, or I could say something that was staggeringly stupid simply because I did not know the background and do not know the facts. That is my point.

I was surprised at what Mr. Finucane implied and asserted happened during the period when I was Prime Minister. I said and I repeat again that I certainly was not aware and was not briefed on that. I am absolutely not briefed. It is over 20 years since I left Parliament. I am absolutely not briefed. I am not unsympathetic and I entirely agree that it is healthy that these things are now being considered and discussed. I hope accommodations with it can be reached as far as possible. I can see that some of them may be difficult to deal with, not least because of the length of time that has elapsed between the event and now. I think it would be very unwise to comment on things about which I have so little knowledge, which is why I made that point.

I had to spend some considerable time reminding myself of the events that took place when I was Prime Minister. It is now 32 years since I became Prime Minister and 25 years since I ceased to be Prime Minister. In that time there is a lot of life to live and a lot of things to happen. I had to go back and remind myself and re-brief myself of all that had happened in that period. I am willing and perfectly intent to respond to those where I can, but I am not in a position to comment on things that have happened 25 years after I left Parliament.

I know that must be disappointing from Mr. Finucane's point of view and I do not wish to disappoint. If I were in a position to answer the question I would, but I am not.