Source · Select Committees · National Security Strategy (Joint Committee)
Recommendation 14
14
Acknowledged
We have considered the circumstances of the meeting held on 1 September and note the...
Conclusion
We have considered the circumstances of the meeting held on 1 September and note the proximity of the Crown Prosecution Service decision to discontinue the case two days later. We did not find evidence of improper influence or deliberate efforts to obstruct the prosecution. We note in particular that First Senior Treasury Counsel had already concluded more than a week earlier that the Deputy National Security Adviser’s evidence was insufficient to proceed to trial. (Conclusion, Paragraph 93) Role of the Attorney General
Government Response Summary
The government welcomed the committee's finding that there was no evidence of improper influence or deliberate efforts to obstruct the prosecution, and thanked them for the clarification regarding the September 1st meeting.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Government welcomes the Committee’s finding that there was no evidence of improper influence or coordinated high-level effort to collapse the prosecution. We thank the committee for clarifying that there was no deliberate effort to obstruct the prosecution, despite characterisations of a 1 September meeting of senior officials. The Government is also pleased the Committee is satisfied that the Attorney General and Law Officers acted with constitutional propriety.