Intelligence and Security Committee Report on Russia Debate

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Department: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Intelligence and Security Committee Report on Russia

Steve Baker Excerpts
Tuesday 5th November 2019

(4 years, 12 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Christopher Pincher Portrait Christopher Pincher
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A report such as this—a sensitive report that is 50 pages long—requires careful consideration. As I said, it was submitted on 17 October and is being reviewed by all the relevant senior officials within government and at No. 10. The Committee will be informed of that process, and when the Prime Minister has concluded that the report is publishable, he will publish it.

Steve Baker Portrait Mr Steve Baker (Wycombe) (Con)
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Are the Government not entitled not to be bullied into accelerating the release of important national security reports? Would it not be a dangerous precedent to establish that the Committee can come to the House and bully the Government into releasing such an important and sensitive report?

Christopher Pincher Portrait Christopher Pincher
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I do not think the Government are being bullied. Certainly we are not prepared to be bullied. We want to make sure the report is given proper and careful consideration and that any further changes to or questions of it can be addressed. Then a properly balanced report can be published.