Espionage cases and the Official Secrets Acts
National Security Strategy (Joint Committee)
Open
Inquiry
Opened: 16 Oct 2025
Parliament page
9
Recommendations
12
Conclusions
1
Report
2
Oral sessions
19
Letters
2
Events
Activity timeline 23 events
12 Feb
2026
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3 Dec
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Report published
1 Dec
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29 Oct
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Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 2 sessions
29 Oct 2025
View on parliament.uk
Rt Hon Darren Jones MP · Duchy of Lancaster
The Rt Hon. the Lord Hermer KC · Attorney General's Office
27 Oct 2025
View on parliament.uk
Matthew Collins · Cabinet Office
Sir Chris Wormald · Department of Health and Social Care
Stephen Parkinson · Crown Prosecution Service
Tom Little KC (First Senior Treasury Counsel)
Reports 1 report · click to expand
| Title | HC No. | Published | Items | Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd Report - Espionage cases and the Official Secrets Acts | HC 1414 | 3 Dec 2025 | 21 | Responded |
Recommendations & Conclusions
1 result
9
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
2nd Report - Espionage cases and t…
Many of the problems in this case stemmed from a lack of clarity over the...
Many of the problems in this case stemmed from a lack of clarity over the evidence. Given the complexity of national security cases we recommend establishing a requirement for a formal case conference within 30 days of such charges being …
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Government Response
The government agrees with the aim of strengthening coordination and developing guiding principles for future cases, committing to produce a new guidance product with the AGO, CPS, and Cabinet Office to improve understanding of evidential and disclosure requirements, but does not explicitly commit to formal case conferences within 30 days.
Cabinet Office
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Correspondence 19 letters
1 Dec 2025
To committee
Letter from the Chair to Baroness Scotland (former AG) relating to the Espionage cases and the Official Secrets Acts inquiry, and the response, dated 11 November 2025
Parliament page
1 Dec 2025
To committee
Letter from the Chair to Sir Stephen Lovegrove (former NSA) relating to the Espionage cases and the Official Secrets Acts inquiry, and the response, dated 14 November 2025
Parliament page
1 Dec 2025
To committee
Letter from the Chair to Robert Courts KC (former Solicitor General) relating to the Espionage cases and the Official Secrets Acts inquiry, and the response, dated 19 November 2025
Parliament page
1 Dec 2025
To committee
Letter from the Chair to Rt Hon Sir Michael Ellis KC (former AG), relating to the Espionage cases and the Official Secrets Acts inquiry, and the response (dated 12 November 2025)
Parliament page
1 Dec 2025
To committee
Letter from the Chair to Dominic Grieve KC (former AG) relating to the Espionage cases and the Official Secrets Acts inquiry, and the response, dated November 2025
Parliament page
1 Dec 2025
To committee
Letter from the Chair to the Director of Public Prosecutions, Crown Prosecution Service relating to the Espionage cases and the Official Secrets Acts inquiry, and the response, dated 12 November 2025
Parliament page
1 Dec 2025
To committee
Letter from the Chair to the Deputy National Security Adviser relating to the Espionage cases and the Official Secrets Acts inquiry, and the response, dated 14 November 2025
Parliament page
1 Dec 2025
To committee
Letter from the Chair to the Attorney General relating to the Espionage cases and the Official Secrets Acts inquiry, and the response, dated 12 November 2025
Parliament page
28 Oct 2025
To committee
Letter from Lord Carlile of Berriew CBE KC relating to the dropped Chinese spy case, dated 20 October 2025
Parliament page
24 Oct 2025
To committee
Letter from the Attorney General, relating to the inquiry into ‘Espionage cases and the Official Secrets Acts’, dated 23 October
Parliament page
24 Oct 2025
To committee
Letter from the Director of Public Prosecutions, Crown Prosecution Service to the Foreign Affairs Committee, Home Affairs Committee, Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy and Justice Committee, relating to Espionage cases and the Official Secrets Acts, dated 24 October 2025
Parliament page
24 Oct 2025
To committee
Letter from the National Security Adviser and Deputy National Security Adviser, relating to the inquiry into ‘Espionage cases and the Official Secrets Acts’, dated 23 October
Parliament page
24 Oct 2025
To committee
Letter from the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, relating to the inquiry into ‘Espionage cases and the Official Secrets Acts’, dated 23 October
Parliament page
24 Oct 2025
To committee
Letter from the Cabinet Secretary, relating to the inquiry into ‘Espionage cases and the Official Secrets Acts’, dated 23 October
Parliament page
21 Oct 2025
From committee
Letter to Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster relating to the inquiry into ‘Espionage cases and the Official Secrets Acts’, dated 20 October 2025
Parliament page
21 Oct 2025
From committee
Letter to Rt Hon Lord Hermer KC, Attorney General relating to the inquiry into ‘Espionage cases and the Official Secrets Acts’, dated 20 October 2025
Parliament page
17 Oct 2025
From committee
Letter to the National Security Adviser and Deputy National Security Adviser, relating to espionage cases, dated 17 October 2025
Parliament page
17 Oct 2025
From committee
Letter to the Cabinet Secretary, relating to espionage cases, dated 17 October 2025
Parliament page
16 Oct 2025
From committee
Letter to the Director of Public Prosecutions, Crown Prosecution Service from the Foreign Affairs Committee, Home Affairs Committee, Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy and Justice Committee relating to Espionage cases and the Official Secrets Acts, dated 16 October 2025
Parliament page