Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, on what date his Department was made aware of Mazars' report commissioned by Thurrock Council into the National Investigation Service; and what steps it took in response.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) became aware of the Mazars report commissioned by Thurrock Council into the NATIS in June 2024.

The report was independently commissioned by Thurrock Council to review NATIS activity internally. DBT was not consulted or interviewed during its preparation.

Although confidential, the recommendations of the report were published in Thurrock Council board meeting quarter 2 2024.

In response, DBT requested the report from NATIS, which was provided July 2024. There was one finding directly affecting DBT that had already been addressed ahead of DBT receiving the report.