"Ministers were hauled before the Commons on Tuesday after claims that the Government had “withheld and redacted key information” from documents due to be scrutinised by Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee."
"Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and a senior ally of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, admitted the second batch of documents - which could have been released this week - would now not appear until June."
"Sir Jeremy Wright, deputy chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee, warned the Government had applied redactions for reasons beyond those agreed by Parliament and claimed some material had been withheld entirely. He said MPs had been clear that only information that risked damaging national security or international relations should be removed before publication."
"“So, for the Government to apply redactions beyond the scope agreed by the House, and also withhold documents entirely from the ISC, completely undermines what this House agreed,” he said. Emily Thornberry, chairwoman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, complained that “obstacles” had hampered attempts by MPs to “get to the truth”."
The next batch of documents connected to Peter Mandelson’s appointment as Britain’s ambassador to Washington has been delayed. Ministers faced urgent questioning after accusations that key information was withheld and redacted from materials intended for scrutiny by the Intelligence and Security Committee. The government had previously been ordered to release documents, but the second batch will not be published until June. Opposition MPs accused the government of a cover-up and said redactions were applied for reasons beyond those agreed by Parliament. The deputy chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee warned that some material was withheld entirely. Foreign Affairs Committee concerns were raised about obstacles preventing MPs from getting to the truth.
Read at London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com
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