Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 23rd June to question 8158 on the Lord Mandelson and Morgan McSweeney, if he can confirm whether these documents have been withheld at the request of the Metropolitan Police.

I refer the Hon Member to the Government’s statement and release of information on 1st June, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The documents published in the first and second tranches contain the entirety of the documents the Government has available for disclosure, except those being withheld at the request of the Metropolitan police.

On the 1st June, the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister outlined the need not to prejudice the ongoing investigation which prevents the government from answering questions relating to specific documents. The Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister outlined the broad categories the documents being withheld fall into: national security vetting material, conflict of interest process material and relevant internal correspondence with Peter Mandelson.