Your recent front-page article accurately reports that 'lawyers could be interrogated by Serious and Organised Crime Agency "examiners" and forced to produce client documents under new powers planned for the agency' (see [2004] Gazette, 1 April, 1).

I would like to make clear that the White Paper is also explicit that legal professional privilege will be protected.

At paragraph 6.2.1 it states: 'During the 1980s, in the context of white-collar crime, the government established the Serious Fraud Office and gave the director powers to compel individuals to co-operate with investigations by producing documents or answering questions - with safeguards to ensure that any self-incriminating material cannot be used, and nor can material subject to legal professional privilege.' Similar powers are envisaged for SOCA.

The consultation period on the White Paper allows those who may be affected to have their say on the detail of how the measure will be implemented.

I hope as many people as possible will take the opportunity to do so.

Lord Goldsmith QC, Attorney-General, London