Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Rebecca Paul Excerpts
Thursday 25th June 2026

(1 month, 1 week ago)

Commons Chamber
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Angela Eagle Portrait Dame Angela Eagle
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I know that the extreme heat has extended even to Harlow, which has surprised some people; it indicates the nature of the threat. We have had a red alert. I will repeat the advice to drink plenty of fluids, and those who are travelling should take a lot of water with them, and be sensible and careful in these conditions. Clearly, water safety is an important issue. The National Fire Chiefs Council has issued good advice about water safety. If you are too hot, jumping into a very cold body of water is not a good idea, tempting though it may seem.

Rebecca Paul Portrait Rebecca Paul (Reigate) (Con)
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12. What recent progress he has made on implementing the Humble Address agreed by this House on 4 February 2026.

Lindsay Hoyle Portrait Mr Speaker
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I call Minister Jones.

Darren Jones Portrait The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Darren Jones)
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I see that the House has been waiting for me. I am starting to prepare myself for a quieter life, and it was nice to have the opportunity to start that this morning.

On 11 March and 1 June, the Government published two tranches of documents. Since the motion has passed, we have been in the House to discuss this matter on 11 occasions, including most recently on 3 June. The Government therefore consider themselves to have discharged their duties to this House in relation to the motion. The exception is the material withheld at the request of the Metropolitan police; we will publish that, once we have been informed that doing so is no longer prejudicial to the Met’s criminal investigation.

Rebecca Paul Portrait Rebecca Paul
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I thank the right hon. Gentleman for that answer. Can he explain why his Department was apparently willing to appoint Mandelson as ambassador, and provide him with access to classified briefings, without conducting any security vetting, given that his close links with Russia and China were already public knowledge before his appointment?

Darren Jones Portrait Darren Jones
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With permission, Mr Speaker, may I refer to my 11 previous statements that answered that question?