Written questions by Wood.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether any exit payment to Oliver Robbins will require a Ministerial Direction.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 22 April to question 128144.

Whether Sir Oliver Robbins had a verbal conversation with any representative of Downing Street or the Cabinet Office to discuss the failure of Lord Mandelson’s UKSV vetting, or associated qualifications with the vetting.

I refer the Hon Member to the statement made by the Prime Minister on 20 April, and his answers to the questions raised in response, including his commitment that the Government would continue to comply with the instructions of Parliament in the Humble Address of 4 February.

If he will place in the Library a copy of the report into the review of the vetting process led by Sir Chris Wormald.

This document has been deposited in the House Library.

Whether any special adviser since July 2024 has had Developed Vetting approved with mitigations following a (a) borderline conclusion and (b) recommended refusal from UKSV.

National Security Vetting (NSV) clearance applications, including Developed Vetting, are rigorously assessed within a robust governance framework. UKSV works closely with departmental vetting risk owners to balance risk mitigation and operational demands with assured and effective national security safeguards. In line with the practice followed by successive administrations, the Government does not otherwise comment on security matters. To reveal such details could prejudice national security and would provide insights into the scale and nature of the UK’s sensitive workforce and the thresholds of our security safeguards.

Pursuant to the answer of 16 April 2026, to Question 122717, on Civil Service: Redundancy, whether the departures of (a) Sir Simon Case, (b) Sir Chris Wormald and (c) Sir Oliver Robbins fall under the classification of Mutually Agreed Exits, as set out in the Annex 6F document.

It is a longstanding policy not to comment on HR matters.I refer to my answer for PQ 88716. Details of any payments made to permanent secretaries are published in their relevant Department Annual Report and Accounts.

With reference to the answer of 9 April 2026 to Question HL15969 on Lord Mandelson, whether the requested information will be published in future volumes of the Government response to the Humble Address.

I refer you to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March and the Government’s response to the debate of 21 April, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address.

Whether (a) Jonathan Powell, (b) Tim Allan, (c) Matthew Doyle and (d) Morgan McSweeney passed their security clearances without any qualification.

We do not comment on the details of individual clearances or national security as a matter of course.

Pursuant to the answer of 13 April 2026 to Question 124080 on Lord Mandelson, whether Darren Tierney offered to Downing Street that he could interview Lord Mandelson.

I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March which sets out the process of appointment and the steps the Government is taking to strengthen the process going forwards.

Further to the answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent of 9 April 2026, to Question HL16074, on Prime Minister: USA, whether the Prime Minister was seated when viewing the presentation about Palantir’s work at the meeting in Washington, and whether Lord Mandelson was present with him at that time, and whether the Prime Minister asked questions about the work of Palantir further to the presentation.

The visit was part of the Prime Minister's trip to Washington. During this visit the Prime Minister listened to a short presentation about Palantir’s work, followed by a tour of the premises and an introduction to members of staff. Any contracts for any firm go through the usual rigorous departmental processes and their decision makers.

What the terms of reference are for the review into security concerns from Lord Mandelson having access to STRAP material; who will be undertaking that review; and whether it is the same review to the one being undertaken by Sir Adrian Fulford.

The Government Security Group (GSG) will conduct a review into Peter Mandelson’s conduct while in the role of HMA Washington. The review will seek to establish whether Mandelson’s actions constituted a national security risk during his tenure.GSG’s review will be conducted separately to that of the review being conducted by Sir Adrian Fulford; which will focus on learning from the Peter Mandelson National Security Vetting case and vetting decision making.

What the reason was for the time taken for officials to inform the Prime Minister of FCDO information on Lord Mandelson’s failed security vetting during the Humble Address response; and whether there were discussions on the release of that information to the (a) ISC and (b) House of Commons.

I refer you to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, the statement made by the Prime Minister on 20 April, and the Government’s response to the debate of 21 April, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address.

What the revised terms of reference are for the review into security vetting led by Sir Adrian Fulford; who will he report to; and whether the review will be made public.

It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Lord Mandelson received training on his STRAP clearance; and on what date Lord Mandelson received that clearance.

I refer the Hon Member to the statement made by the Prime Minister on 21 April, and his answers to the questions raised in response, including his commitment that the Government would continue to comply with the instructions of Parliament in the Humble Address of 4 February.

Pursuant to the answer of 27 March 2026, to Question 121762, on Lord Mandelson, and to the answer of 31 March 2026, to Question 115894, on Jeffrey Epstein, whether the detailed information on Lord Mandelson's security clearance will be published in the Volume 2 of the Humble Address response.

I refer you to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, the statement made by the Prime Minister on 20 April, and the Government’s response to the debate of 21 April, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address.

Whether the Cabinet Office was aware that Lord Mandelson failed his Developed Vetting when the Volume 1 of the Government response to the humble Address was laid on 11 March 2026.

I refer the hon Member to the Statement made by the Prime Minister on Security Vetting on the 20 April 2026, Official Report, Column 23-26.

On what date the Prime Minister first became aware that Lord Mandelson had not received full security vetting clearance.

I refer the Hon Member to the Statement made by the Prime Minister on Security Vetting on the 20 April 2026, Official Report, Column 23-26.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the letter to appointment of 4 February 2025 on page 76 of the Volume 1 of the Government response to the Humble Address on Lord Mandelson, whether Lord Mandelson fully passed his STRAP clearance process.

I refer the Hon Member to the statement made by the Prime Minister on 20 April, and his answers to the questions raised in response, including his commitment that the Government would continue to comply with the instructions of Parliament in the Humble Address of 4 February.

Whether there are any rules and guidance that prevent the sharing of an outcome of a security vetting with another government department for (a) an ambassadorial and (b) a head of mission senior civil servant appointment.

I refer the Hon Member to the Statement provided by the Prime Minister on 20 April 2026 titled Security Vetting, Official Report, Column 24-25.

If he will make it his policy that the Government’s Volume 2 response to the Humble Address on Lord Mandelson includes the disclosure of all communications relating to the conclusions of UK Security Vetting's security vetting on Lord Mandelson.

I refer you to the statement made by the Prime Minister on 20 April, and his answers to the questions raised in response, including his commitment that the Government would continue to comply with the instructions of Parliament in the Humble Address of 4 February.

With reference to the submission from Simon Case of 11 November 2024 disclosed in Volume 1 of the Government response to the humble Address on Lord Mandelson, what consideration was given by the Prime Minister to undertaking the UKSV security checks on Lord Mandelson before the appointment was publicly announced.

I refer the Hon Member to the Statement made by the Prime Minister on Security Vetting on the 20 April 2026, Official Report, Column 23-26.