Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament: Special Report Debate

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Department: Leader of the House
Monday 4th November 2019

(4 years, 6 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Earl Howe Portrait Earl Howe
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On the timescale, I can go no further than I already have.

Baroness Altmann Portrait Baroness Altmann (Con)
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My Lords, will my noble friend take back to his department and to the Prime Minister the clear strength of feeling across this House—and the sense of urgency, given that we face Dissolution tomorrow—that the report should be published? Indeed, as far as the House has been informed, there is an urgency to this matter. The report does not require consideration; all it requires is publication. Everything else has been arranged.

Earl Howe Portrait Earl Howe
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Understandably, the committee has access to highly sensitive information that allows it to carry out its oversight duties. The reports it produces often contain information that, were it to be released, might damage the ability of those the ISC oversees to discharge their functions. That is why the governing Act allows for a period of time for the Prime Minister to consider the report carefully. That is what is happening at the moment.