Speeches by Whittingdale.

“Despite what the Minister says, hospitality businesses in my constituency, and the constituencies of my hon. Friends, are reeling from the impact of higher energy costs, and increased national insurance contributions and business rates. These businesses are making it clear that if there are any further increases, they …”

“12. What steps his Department is taking to support the hospitality industry.”

“You say that your discovery of the closeness of his relationship was like a knife to the heart, but the box note says that you discussed with Peter Mandelson his relationship with Epstein, and that you then discovered, as a result of that conversation, for instance, the fact that he stayed in the flat belonging to Jeff…”

“On 4 February, Parliament passed a motion requiring the divulgence of all communications relating to the appointment of Peter Mandelson. On 25 March, you reported that your telephone had been stolen. The Metropolitan police have released the transcript of the call you made relating to the theft of your mobile phone. Yo…”

“Coming back to the answer you gave the Chair about you leaving your post, you said that David Lammy told you that he wanted to make a change because of the transformation programme. Do you believe that your concerns about the way in which Peter Mandelson was appointed had any influence on the decision to ask you to lea…”

“You have set out why you think he was well qualified to do the job, but you have also known him for a very long time. You would have also been fully aware of the fact that he had twice had to resign from the Cabinet; that he had business interests with China; that he had a close friendship with Jeffrey Epstein; and tha…”

“When you were told that a decision had been reached and it was Peter Mandelson, did you express any concerns about that?”

“I will follow up on one or two of the questions from the Chair. You said that the process had been under way for an internal competition but come the general election it was frozen. Once the new Government had been elected, was the process not then recommenced?”

“You will be aware that a number of very senior former civil servants have spoken about how damaging this episode has been for the civil service. As a former very experienced permanent secretary and head of the diplomatic service, what is your assessment of how this has affected the civil service, and in particular the …”

“Do you think the trusting relationship, at present, has broken down?”

“The Foreign Office must have been continuing to look at potential candidates to replace Karen Pierce.”

“So the decision was that he required DV. That was your view and it was the view of the Foreign Office security department, yet we know that prior to him obtaining DV clearance, he was given access to information that would usually require DV to have been completed. How did that come about?”

“Can I just be clear? The Prime Minister had decided that he wished to make a political appointment. Was it you who first said, “Prime Minister, I have the perfect candidate: Peter Mandelson”?”

“Directly to the Prime Minister—“I want the job”?”

“When were you first told that it was likely to be a political appointment?”

“You say the Prime Minister had been made aware of the risks, but he had not, because the developed vetting had not been carried out, so all that had taken place was the due diligence. Did you ask whether or not developed vetting had taken place?”

“On 15 December.”

“So until 15 December you had no information that any discussion had taken place, and certainly that a decision had been reached.”

“Did you express a view as to whether or not developed vetting should take place before an announcement?”

“Sorry.”