Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration the Cabinet Office's Propriety, Ethics and Constitution Group gave to interviewing Lord Mandelson before his appointment as ambassador to the USA; and whether the Group offered to undertake such an interview.

I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March which sets out the process of appointment and the steps the Government is taking to strengthen the process going forwards.