The Prime Minister insisted the UK Government wanted to ensure transparency and urgency in the process of releasing material.
Sir Keir Starmer has warned a “very significant volume of material” will likely need to be reviewed in relation to Lord Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the US as Parliament’s security watchdog assesses which documents can be released.
The Prime Minister insisted the UK Government wanted to “ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency it deserves” in a letter to the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) on Friday evening.
Writing to committee chairman Lord Beamish in a letter published on Friday, Sir Keir said: “I have asked the Cabinet Secretary to work with you and your committee to agree the detail of how material that may be prejudicial to the UK’s National Security and International Relations is shared and reviewed, having regard to the requirements of the Metropolitan Police investigation.
“As you note in your letter, it is important that documents are made available to Parliament as soon as possible, noting that there is likely to be a very significant volume of material that will need to be reviewed to establish whether it is in scope.
“Above all else, the Government wishes to engage constructively with the ISC, and to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency it deserves. I have asked the Cabinet Secretary to follow up.”
