Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, whether, when conducting vetting for the appointment of Lord Mandelson as ambassador to the USA, due diligence was undertaken in relation to Global Counsel’s work in Russia and China.

I refer the Noble Lord to the Government's statement (Official Report, vol. 782, cols. 359-374) and release of information on 11 March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament's instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.