Salisbury Incident Update

Lord Elystan-Morgan Excerpts

Monday 12th March 2018 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Evans of Bowes Park]

Knowing his previous profession, I am sure the noble Lord will understand that I cannot comment on individual cases.

[Lord Elystan-Morgan (CB)]

My Lords, in the case of Litvinenko a public inquiry was set up nine years after the event, when the trail had gone very cold. Will Her Majesty’s Government arrange for a public inquiry to be ordered immediately, as there is every prospect that it can cast a flood of light on this matter?

[Baroness Evans of Bowes Park]

As the Statement made clear, we have asked the Russian ambassador to respond within 24 hours to the questions that we have put to him, and I do not think it is right for me to prejudge any of the responses. I have made clear that we will be returning to the House once those conversations have been had and a decision is made as to how to proceed on the basis of the information received.