Independent Adviser on Ministerial Interests Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Independent Adviser on Ministerial Interests

Lord Beamish Excerpts
Wednesday 30th November 2022

(2 years ago)

Commons Chamber
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Alex Burghart Portrait Alex Burghart
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I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave a few moments ago. He seems terribly well informed, but he seems to have stopped short of reading Lord Geidt’s response to the changes in the terms of reference, where he said that

“this would be a workable scheme”.

Lord Beamish Portrait Mr Kevan Jones (North Durham) (Lab)
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I hear what the Minister says, but can he give any timescale of when the appointment will be made? In the meantime, can I ask specifically what advice is being given to Ministers and, more importantly, their special advisers on the use of private email and WhatsApp groups?

Alex Burghart Portrait Alex Burghart
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As I have said, there is a process ongoing to appoint an independent adviser as fast as possible. The Prime Minister has been in post for 31 days, and there is standing advice on the use of WhatsApp and private messaging.