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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

1 item
10 Conclusion 2nd Report - Espionage cases and the Of… Rejected

Some processes were excessively protracted, with extensive to and fro.

Some processes were excessively protracted, with extensive to and fro. From the outside some aspects look shambolic. The process for securing the DNSA’s second witness statement took nearly eight months, for example. The reason for this delay remains obscure to us. (Conclusion, Paragraph 76)

Government response. The government agreed timely evidence acquisition is a priority but rejected the committee's conclusion of an eight-month delay in securing the DNSA's second witness statement. They provided a detailed timeline and explanation of the complex review process, arguing that work …
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…