Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to paragraph 23(b) of Witness Statement 1 by the Deputy National Security Adviser of 22 December 2023, what those back channels were.

Upholding national security and keeping the public safe is the first duty of Government.

This Government has been clear that we are extremely disappointed in the decision by the CPS not to proceed with prosecution of Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry. Given the concerns raised by Honourable Members about the safety and security of the House, we have sought to be as transparent as possible by publishing the witness statements relating to the case.

The references to ‘backchannel’ discussions that are alleged to have taken place occurred under the previous Government.