The British parliament has refused to release a confidential report examining the UK's relations with governments that came to power in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya following the Arab Spring uprisings, insisting the document must remain secret until 2046.
The House of Commons rejected a freedom of information request submitted by The New Arab seeking access to the findings of a parliamentary inquiry into British foreign policy towards the three countries.
The report, titled British Foreign Policy and the 'Arab Spring', was prepared by the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee following a series of hearings, some held behind closed doors, and visits to Egypt and Tunisia in 2015.
During those visits, committee members met the countries' leaders and senior officials to discuss human rights, political developments and Britain's relations with their governments.
The committee did not visit Libya because of security concerns and the closure of the British embassy there in 2014.
Although the committee published a brief summary of its findings in March 2015, the full report has remained confidential for more than a decade.
In its response to TNA, the House of Commons confirmed that the document would not be released until 1 January 2046, more than 30 years after it was prepared.
"The House of Commons Commission has decided to maintain the closure of the report until 1 January 2046," the response stated.
The commission said it had formally decided to maintain restrictions on archived parliamentary records and would not release them before their designated disclosure dates.
It also cited parliamentary privilege, which gives each house of the UK parliament the exclusive right to determine whether and when privileged information should be made public.
The House of Commons Commission is the body responsible for overseeing the administration of the Commons. It is chaired by the Speaker and includes the Leader of the House, an MP nominated by the leader of the opposition and three other MPs appointed by the House.
Public interest argument rejected
TNA argued that releasing the report would serve the public interest, given its examination of British policy towards countries that experienced major political upheaval during the Arab Spring.
However, the commission invoked Section 34 of the Freedom of Information Act, which protects information covered by parliamentary privilege.
The provision allows parliamentary authorities to withhold information relating to privileged parliamentary proceedings without having to conduct a public interest balancing test.
The Foreign Affairs Committee is responsible for scrutinising the work of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and its associated public bodies.
In February and March 2015, the committee conducted a follow-up inquiry into British foreign policy and the Arab Spring, building on its earlier examination of the uprisings that swept across the Middle East and North Africa from late 2010.
Committee members travelled to Egypt and Tunisia and subsequently heard oral evidence from Tobias Ellwood, then Britain's minister for the Middle East, as well as ambassadors, other officials and regional experts.
A short report was published on 24 March 2015, while the detailed final document was subsequently submitted to the House of Commons authorities.
British support for authoritarian governments questioned
The publicly available summary raised concerns about Britain's relationship with Egypt following the military's return to power under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
The committee noted that discussions in Egypt and meetings with British Foreign Office officials had placed "particular emphasis on security cooperation and trade" in bilateral relations.
It also drew comparisons between Britain's relationship with Sisi's government and its earlier ties with Egypt under former President Hosni Mubarak, who was overthrown during the 2011 uprising.
The committee acknowledged the reputational damage Britain had suffered because of perceptions that it supported authoritarian governments.
It noted that Western countries, including the UK, had faced criticism for returning to policies that prioritised stability and strong leadership over support for emerging democracies, particularly in Egypt.
Those concerns were reinforced by reports of a serious deterioration in Egypt's human rights situation.
According to the summary, individuals who met the parliamentary delegation said human rights and those defending them were under severe pressure.
During the visit, committee members met Sisi, the Egyptian prime minister, former presidential candidate Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh, who is currently imprisoned, and Major General Mohamed al-Assar, then assistant defence minister.
They also held discussions with representatives of political parties.
Optimism in Tunisia, security fears in Libya
The committee's assessment of Tunisia was more optimistic, reflecting the country's relatively successful political transition following the uprising that began in late 2010 and triggered the wider Arab Spring.
The summary noted a generally positive outlook among those who met the delegation, although committee members expressed disappointment with the European Union's response to the uprisings.
They also voiced frustration that British efforts to support political and economic reforms were not widely recognised.
The committee highlighted projects undertaken by British organisations, including the British Council and BBC Media Action in Libya, describing some of their work as particularly impressive.
However, the summary did not address Tunisia's human rights situation.
During their visit, MPs met then-President Beji Caid Essebsi, the prime minister, the parliamentary speaker and Rached Ghannouchi, leader of the Ennahda party, who is currently imprisoned.
They also held talks with civil society representatives and parliamentarians.
The committee painted a considerably bleaker picture of Libya, saying conditions in 2015 were far less promising than they had appeared in 2012.
Its findings highlighted concerns about irregular migration through Libya and the possibility that militants could exploit migration routes to reach Europe and carry out attacks.
Although the delegation did not travel to Libya, it met the British, American, German, French and EU ambassadors to the country during its visit to Tunisia, alongside British officials involved in Libyan affairs.
The withheld report is expected to contain fuller details of the committee's findings, including discussions with leaders of countries affected by the Arab Spring and its assessment of Britain's response to the uprisings.