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
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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
4 results
6
Conclusion
Acknowledged
2nd Report - Espionage cases and t…
We found evidence of misaligned expectations which contributed to the decision to discontinue the case.
We found evidence of misaligned expectations which contributed to the decision to discontinue the case. In particular, the Deputy National Security Adviser (DNSA) said he was clear from the outset that he would only provide evidence in line with Government …
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Government Response
The government acknowledges the Committee's finding of misaligned expectations concerning the DNSA's evidence and his capacity as a witness, and details the DNSA's understanding of his role while committing to develop new guidance to provide future clarity and improve coordination.
Cabinet Office
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7
Conclusion
Acknowledged
2nd Report - Espionage cases and t…
We did not find evidence of deliberate efforts to obstruct the prosecution.
We did not find evidence of deliberate efforts to obstruct the prosecution. The sequence of events nevertheless raises some substantial questions of whether the Government officials and counsel working on the DNSA’s witness statements could have found an alternative formulation …
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Government Response
The government welcomed the committee's finding that there was no evidence of deliberate efforts to obstruct the prosecution and that the Attorney General acted with constitutional propriety, but did not address the committee's questions regarding alternative evidence formulations or the CPS's legal conclusions.
Cabinet Office
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14
Conclusion
Acknowledged
2nd Report - Espionage cases and t…
We have considered the circumstances of the meeting held on 1 September and note the...
We have considered the circumstances of the meeting held on 1 September and note the proximity of the Crown Prosecution Service decision to discontinue the case two days later. We did not find evidence of improper influence or deliberate efforts …
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Government Response
The government welcomed the committee's finding that there was no evidence of improper influence or deliberate efforts to obstruct the prosecution, and thanked them for the clarification regarding the September 1st meeting.
Cabinet Office
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15
Conclusion
Acknowledged
2nd Report - Espionage cases and t…
We are satisfied that the current Attorney General acted with constitutional propriety.
We are satisfied that the current Attorney General acted with constitutional propriety. We are also satisfied that there was nothing inappropriate about the processes for obtaining Law Officer consent to prosecute, or the subsequent process for informing the Attorney that …
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Government Response
The government welcomed the committee's finding that there was no evidence of improper influence and expressed pleasure that the committee was satisfied the Attorney General and Law Officers acted with constitutional propriety.
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