Lord Mandelson: Government Response to Humble Address Debate
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Blake Stephenson
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Lord Mandelson: Government Response to Humble Address
Blake Stephenson Excerpts(3 weeks, 1 day ago)
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Urgent Questions are proposed each morning by backbench MPs, and up to two may be selected each day by the Speaker. Chosen Urgent Questions are announced 30 minutes before Parliament sits each day.
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Darren Jones
I refer to my opening statement in relation to compliance with the Humble Address and the right for the Government to withhold information subject to public interest duties—for example, the names and contact details of junior officials. All redactions that are in relation to national security and international relations have been submitted to the Intelligence and Security Committee and agreed in line with the Humble Address.
Blake Stephenson (Mid Bedfordshire) (Con)
Given the scale and significance of the Mandelson files due to be released, why does the Minister not accept that the review of those files over the Whitsun recess would be a good use of everyone’s time, with questions to Ministers being put after 1 June when we return? Is it because Ministers intend to limit scrutiny by this House? That is exactly what it looks like to me and to my constituents.
Darren Jones
The hon. Gentleman is wrong. The intent is to increase scrutiny, not to decrease it.