19th Report - Stemming the flow: An urgent look at tackling a culture of leaks
- HC No.
- HC 2541
- Published
- 25 Jul 2019
- Items
- 0
- Government response
- Government response published 16 October 2019. Read the government's response ↗
Select committee: Foreign Affairs Committee
FCO secure communications and handling of classified information inquiry
Closed
Opened 9 Jul 2019
Closed 1 Oct 2019
Foreign Affairs Committee Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Inquiry scope (the committee's words)
The Foreign Affairs Committee launched an urgent inquiry into the FCO's secure communications and handling of classified information. The inquiry considered: The necessity of secure communications and information handling for the good functioning of the FCO and the impact of leaks on that functioning The steps taken by the FCO to ensure that its information and communications are treated securely Whether the steps taken by the FCO and other Government departments in response to apparent leaks are adequate Whether the classification regime used by the FCO is appropriate Whether the sanctions in place to deter such leaks are effective and fit for purpose.
Where it stands
The inquiry is closed, opened 9 July 2019.
The committee has published 1 report, most recently 19th Report - Stemming the flow: An urgent look at tackling a culture of leaks on 25 July 2019.
The government's response
Published 16 October 2019.
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The Government, including the FCO, agrees that all leaks are unacceptable, but does not agree to a pre-appointment hearing for the next Ambassador to the USA.
- It states "We do not agree" to a pre-appointment hearing, giving as its reason that there is "no provision for it" in Government policy or the legislation and principles governing Civil Service appointments.
- On classification and distribution, it says the Cabinet Office is reviewing the information handling regime for OFFICIAL level information, and the FCO is "exploring the possibility" of using Office 365 to restrict forwarding and printing of more sensitive e-mails.
- It agrees that penalties for the most serious breaches "must be severe enough to deter others"; sentencing under the Official Secrets Act 1989 is one of the issues being considered in the Law Commission review it commissioned in 2015.
- On other sanctions, it notes departments' existing powers in gross misconduct cases, and says the FCO is working with the Cabinet Office, which "is considering if and how" they could be applied to serious leaks.
Reports
All reportsEvidence
- 3 oral evidence sessionsLatest 18 July 2019
Recent activity
- 24th Special Report - Stemming the flow: An urgent look at tackling a culture of leaks: Government Response to the Committee’s Nineteenth Report16 October 2019, Report published
- Correspondence from the Permanent Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, regarding FCO secure communications and handling of classified information inquiry. 23 July 20192 August 2019, Correspondence
- Correspondence from the Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the UN, regarding the UK's intended commitment to UN peacekeeping post-2020, 22 July 20192 August 2019, Correspondence
Reports
Oral evidence sessions
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Correspondence
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