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Select Committee · National Security Strategy (Joint Committee)

Espionage cases and the Official Secrets Acts

Status: Open Opened: 16 Oct 2025 9 recommendations 12 conclusions 1 report
Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
2nd Report - Espionage cases and the Official Secrets Acts HC 1414 3 Dec 2025 21 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

3 items
1 Conclusion 2nd Report - Espionage cases and the Of… Not Addressed

The Crown Prosecution Service determined that it required specific evidence that China posed an “active...

The Crown Prosecution Service determined that it required specific evidence that China posed an “active threat” to UK national security at the relevant time, following a Court of Appeal ruling known as “Roussev”. It is not within the Committee’s remit to second guess the decision-making and professional judgement of the …

Government response. The government's response focuses on clarifying the DNSA's witness statements and timelines rather than directly addressing the Committee's stated unclarity regarding the significant legal impact of the Roussev Court of Appeal ruling.
Cabinet Office
2 Conclusion 2nd Report - Espionage cases and the Of… Not Addressed

The Deputy National Security Adviser (DNSA) would not describe China as posing an “active threat”...

The Deputy National Security Adviser (DNSA) would not describe China as posing an “active threat” to national security at the relevant time. We acknowledge the position from the Crown Prosecution Service that it would undermine their case that China represented such a threat if the DNSA, their central expert witness, …

Government response. The government welcomed the committee's findings of no improper influence or obstruction and a recommendation to consider support mechanisms for senior officials acting as witnesses. However, it did not directly address the committee's specific observation about the DNSA's phrasing regarding …
Cabinet Office
16 Conclusion 2nd Report - Espionage cases and the Of… Not Addressed

We regret that opportunities were not taken to inform the Attorney General of the situation...

We regret that opportunities were not taken to inform the Attorney General of the situation in greater detail earlier on and request his assistance insofar as would be constitutionally appropriate. (Conclusion, Paragraph 116) 50 Lessons learned

Government response. The government did not address the Committee’s regret that opportunities were missed to inform the Attorney General earlier. Instead, it welcomed findings elsewhere in the report that cleared the government of improper influence or obstruction of the prosecution.
Cabinet Office

Oral evidence sessions

2 sessions
Date Witnesses
29 Oct 2025 Rt Hon Darren Jones MP · Duchy of Lancaster, The Rt Hon. the Lord Hermer KC · Attorney General's Office View ↗
27 Oct 2025 Matthew Collins · Cabinet Office, Sir Chris Wormald · Department of Health and Social Care, Stephen Parkinson · Crown Prosecution Service, Tom Little KC (First Senior Treasury Counsel) View ↗

Correspondence

19 letters
DateDirectionTitle
1 Dec 2025 To cttee Letter from the Chair to Baroness Scotland (former AG) relating to the Espionag…
1 Dec 2025 To cttee Letter from the Chair to Sir Stephen Lovegrove (former NSA) relating to the Es…
1 Dec 2025 To cttee Letter from the Chair to Robert Courts KC (former Solicitor General) relating t…
1 Dec 2025 To cttee Letter from the Chair to Rt Hon Sir Michael Ellis KC (former AG), relating to …
1 Dec 2025 To cttee Letter from the Chair to Dominic Grieve KC (former AG) relating to the Espionag…
1 Dec 2025 To cttee Letter from the Chair to the Director of Public Prosecutions, Crown Prosecution…
1 Dec 2025 To cttee Letter from the Chair to the Attorney General relating to the Espionage cases a…
1 Dec 2025 To cttee Letter from the Chair to the Deputy National Security Adviser relating to the E…
28 Oct 2025 To cttee Letter from Lord Carlile of Berriew CBE KC relating to the dropped Chinese spy …
24 Oct 2025 To cttee Letter from the Director of Public Prosecutions, Crown Prosecution Service to t…
24 Oct 2025 To cttee Letter from the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, relating to the inquiry i…
24 Oct 2025 To cttee Letter from the Cabinet Secretary, relating to the inquiry into ‘Espionage case…
24 Oct 2025 To cttee Letter from the Attorney General, relating to the inquiry into ‘Espionage cases…
24 Oct 2025 To cttee Letter from the National Security Adviser and Deputy National Security Adviser,…
21 Oct 2025 From cttee Letter to Rt Hon Lord Hermer KC, Attorney General relating to the inquiry into …
21 Oct 2025 From cttee Letter to Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster relating…
17 Oct 2025 From cttee Letter to the National Security Adviser and Deputy National Security Adviser, r…
17 Oct 2025 From cttee Letter to the Cabinet Secretary, relating to espionage cases, dated 17 October …
16 Oct 2025 From cttee Letter to the Director of Public Prosecutions, Crown Prosecution Service from t…