Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what was the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development internal policy basis, for the decision to grant Lord Mandelson access to classified briefings at higher tiers from 6 January 2025, before his Developed Vetting was completed.

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.