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Committee publication · Correspondence · 28 April 2026

Response from the Cabinet Office, following oral evidence session with Catherine Little CB on 23 April 2026, dated 24 April 2026

From: Foreign Affairs Committee

Summary

The Cabinet Office responds to follow-up questions from the Foreign Affairs Committee following Catherine Little CB's oral evidence on 23 April 2026. The Cabinet Office clarifies that seven individuals beyond security officials were aware of a vetting summary outcome between 25 March and 14 April, confirms the maximum penalty under the Official Secrets Act for unauthorised disclosure is two years' imprisonment and/or unlimited fine, states it has no record of Cabinet Office advice on Morgan McSweeney questioning Peter Mandelson, and defers to the FCDO on requests for vetting guidance.

Key findings

  • Seven individuals (plus mandatory security officials) knew of a vetting summary outcome between 25 March and 14 April 2026, before the Prime Minister was informed
  • Maximum penalty under the Official Secrets Act for sharing such information is 2 years' imprisonment and/or unlimited fine
  • Cabinet Office has no record of advice proposing the former PM's Chief of Staff should ask questions of Peter Mandelson regarding Epstein issues
  • Cabinet Office defers to FCDO for provision of vetting decision guidance and does not hold copies

Tone

Factual

Topics

government-administrationsecurity-vettingofficial-secretscivil-service

Key actors

Catherine Little CB, Dame Emily Thornberry, Alex Ballinger, Alan Gemmell, Morgan McSweeney, Peter Mandelson, Sir Olly, Cabinet Office

Notable line

“Between 25 March and 14 April, seven individuals (in addition to 'must know' security officials) were made aware of, through the compliance with the Humble Address process in the CO …”

Key Quotes

“Between 25 March and 14 April, seven individuals (in addition to 'must know' security officials) were made aware of, through the compliance with the Humble Address process in the CO, the outcome of the vetting summary document.”
— Cabinet Office · responding to question about awareness of vetting outcome before PM was told
“Our legal advisers advise that the maximum penalty on conviction is 2 years' imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.”
— Cabinet Office · responding to question about Official Secrets Act penalties
“We have not been able to identify any Cabinet Office advice proposing that the former PM's Chief of Staff should ask questions of Peter Mandelson.”
— Cabinet Office · responding to question about advice on Morgan McSweeney questioning Mandelson
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Source · parliament.uk record ↗