Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister's oral contribution during the debate on Lord Mandelson: Response to Humble Address of 3 June 2026, Official Report column 1264, if he will place in the Library a copy of the letter from the Cabinet Secretary to all heads of department on the rules on record keeping.

The Cabinet Secretary wrote to all Heads of Department on 1st June 2026 to remind them of their responsibilities to ensure that their departments maintain accurate official records, have systems in place to protect sensitive information, and preserve records of historical value to transfer them to The National Archives.

The letter referred to specific lessons learned from the Humble Address as follows:

• The importance of using the official Private Office Box process for recording advice, steers and decisions;

• The record keeping obligations that guide the use of Non-Corporate Communication Channels;

• The requirement to use appropriate official systems for higher classification material; and

• The importance of properly noting and separating records relating to political and official advice.

The letter is internal correspondence and there are no plans to place it in the House Library.