Papers Relating to the Home Secretary

Debate between Mark Eastwood and Stuart C McDonald

Tuesday 8th November 2022 Commons Chamber

[Mark Eastwood]

Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

Ultimately, it is not appropriate for the Government to publish information relating to confidential advice. Despite what the Opposition say, the documents in question did not contain any information relating to national security, the intelligence agencies, cyber-security or law enforcement. In the Home Secretary’s letter to the Chair of the Home Affairs Committee, she clarified:

“The draft WMS did not contain any information relating to national security, the intelligence agencies, cyber security or law enforcement. It did not contain details of any particular case work.”

The data in question was already in the public domain.

[Stuart C. McDonald]

If it was already in the public domain and there is nothing to hide, does the hon. Member agree that we should at least get to see that ministerial statement?

[Mark Eastwood]

As I said, my constituents are just concerned about the subject at hand, which is illegal immigration and the small boats and dinghies coming over. So no, I do not think that that is correct.

In the Home Secretary’s letter to the Chair of the Home Affairs Committee, she clarified:

“It did not contain any market-sensitive data as all the data contained in the document was already in the public domain.”

That concludes my speech.