Recommendation 21

HM Government Accepted

The Government welcomes the Committee’s recommendation to consider the support mechanisms and ensure line management structures are clear for senior officials, such as the DNSA, to ensure they are not left unduly exposed or isolated when acting as bound witnesses in high-profile cases. Before finalising his first witness statement, the DNSA sighted the then National Security Adviser and the then Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary noting that then CO Permanent Secretary and National Security Adviser had already agreed to him being a witness. Alex Chisholm was consulted because at this time the then Cabinet Secretary (Simon Case) was on medical leave. After the charging decision in April 2024, DNSA was a witness in criminal proceedings, whose evidence was not yet heard or tested in Court, and therefore his following two witness statements could not be shared with officials outside of the members of staff within NSS and Cabinet Office Legal Team who supported the DNSA to draft the statements. This was confirmed as such by the CPS. However, the Cabinet Secretary was aware that the case was going on and, in his capacity as the DNSA’s line manager, was available throughout the case to provide support or for the DNSA to raise any personal concerns, without touching on the specific evidence of the case. For any instances whereby the government, or in this case a government official, is asked to provide evidence to support a CPS criminal case it would be completely typical for the government to consult the relevant government legal team on how to approach a CPS request. In some cases, specialist external counsel may be engaged. In this case external counsel was instructed by departmental legal advisers to provide criminal law expertise. However, the Government welcomes the Committee’s recommendation to review the advice available to bound witnesses in sensitive national security cases to ensure they fully understand what is expected of them and to ensure that the wrap-around support provided to witnesses is sufficient. This will be specifically covered as part of the guidance product that the AGO, CPS, and Cabinet Office seek to produce.