Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether any staff in the Propriety and Constitution Group assisting with the Government response to the Humble Address include staff who produced the due diligence regarding Lord Mandelson's appointment.

The Cabinet Secretary has asked the Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary to lead on the response to the Humble Address. Staff from across the Cabinet Office are involved in compliance with the Humble Address motion as necessary. Civil Servants remain bound by the Civil Service Code at all times, and by their departmental policies on managing conflicts of interest.

I refer the Hon Member to the Government’s statement and release of information on 1st June, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The documents published in the first and second tranches contain the entirety of the documents the Government has available for disclosure, except those being withheld at the request of the Metropolitan police.