WhatsApp: Ministerial Communications Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

WhatsApp: Ministerial Communications

Lord Vaux of Harrowden Excerpts
Wednesday 8th March 2023

(1 year, 8 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Neville-Rolfe Portrait Baroness Neville-Rolfe (Con)
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I feel that that is completely impractical. We live in a modern world, where people use WhatsApp, private mail and SMS. What we need to do is have sensible rules and training for Ministers and parliamentarians to teach them what they can do and what is risky. I personally had an excellent briefing on my first day as a Minister at the Cabinet Office. I was given my own devices and was told about the risks of social media in a way that I found encouraged me to conform very closely.

Lord Vaux of Harrowden Portrait Lord Vaux of Harrowden (CB)
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My Lords, is it appropriate for a Minister to hand a cache of WhatsApp messages—government messages—to a journalist for personal gain?

Baroness Neville-Rolfe Portrait Baroness Neville-Rolfe (Con)
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I will not be drawn on the individual case, but I will point to what the Government are doing and also refer the noble Lord, who is a friend, to the Covid inquiry. My understanding is that Mr Hancock has said that he will ensure that all appropriate material is given to the inquiry, and I understand that the Department of Health and Social Care is ensuring just that.