Speeches by Whittingdale.

“Okay. Can I then come to the actual outcome of the DV process? I think you said that UKSV sent a 10-page document, essentially setting out their findings. One assumes that that must have included the traffic lights. I mean, a 10-page document cannot exclude the final recommendation, which is not to give clearance.”

“Are you asking why there isn’t a further document setting out a record of that meeting?”

“Wouldn’t you expect to see further information around this?”

“Okay. Is that part of what you are examining?”

“But what I am talking about is before UKSV had made any recommendation. It is the fact that the Cabinet Office has said that the appointment should not be announced and made until DV had been completed, and yet that was what happened, against the strong advice of the Cabinet Office.”

“So you are continuing to push.”

“You weren’t involved, but you represent the Cabinet Office and that was the Cabinet Office view at the time.”

“And the former permanent secretary’s view.”

“The Cabinet Office has been tasked with fulfilling the requirements of the Humble Address. Are you confident that that is being fulfilled to the letter, or are you aware of any other documents that have not yet been published that might help explain what has happened?”

“And who told you not to tell the Foreign Secretary?”

“I am afraid that Madam Deputy Speaker is coughing at me, so I will not give way. I fear that there is still more to come. I hope that I can say on behalf of the Foreign Affairs Committee that we will continue to pursue this matter.”

“But are you aware of any documents that would be highly relevant to this matter that have not been released?”

“I said to you, “You were not aware that the red box saying ‘clearance denied’ had a tick in it.””

“I completely agree with the hon. Lady. It is somehow being suggested by Labour Members that this was about people advising the Prime Minister—I think one speaker earlier said that the Prime Minister had been persuaded to appoint Peter Mandelson. Well, I worked for a Prime Minister, and she coined a phrase: “Advisers ad…”

“This morning’s Foreign Affairs Committee session lasted for two-and-a-half hours. It was certainly one of the more remarkable sessions that I have attended, and I have been involved in a number of quite controversial Select Committee hearings over the years. It showed the Select Committee system at its best, and Member…”

“But are you aware of any documents that would be highly relevant to this matter that have not been released?”

“But even if you hadn’t seen the sheet, you didn’t know that the clear recommendation—final decision—of UKSV was “clearance denied”.”

“I said to you, “You were not aware that the red box saying ‘clearance denied’ had a tick in it.””

“Can I also ask you a little bit more about the meeting you had on 29 January, which resulted in the decision to give DV clearance? You have said that you were briefed about the contents of the report by UKSV, but that you did not see it. We understand that there is a template decision-making form—indeed, the Government…”

“But even if you hadn’t seen the sheet, you didn’t know that the clear recommendation—final decision—of UKSV was “clearance denied”.”