Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department received legal advice before commissioning the contract with Peters and Peters for a public opinion regarding the Committee of Privileges' inquiry into the Rt. hon. Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip.

Notwithstanding that in the exceptional circumstances the Government determined it was in the public interest for Lord Pannick’s legal opinion to be published, it remains the case that the Government does not comment on legal advice that may or may not have been sought or received. This is in line with the long-standing policy under successive administrations.