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
Report published
3 Dec
2025
Report published
1 Dec
2025
Correspondence
1 Dec
2025
Correspondence
1 Dec
2025
Correspondence
1 Dec
2025
Correspondence
1 Dec
2025
Correspondence
1 Dec
2025
Correspondence
1 Dec
2025
Correspondence
1 Dec
2025
Correspondence
29 Oct
2025
Oral evidence
28 Oct
2025
Correspondence
Oral evidence sessions 2 sessions
29 Oct 2025
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Rt Hon Darren Jones MP · Duchy of Lancaster The Rt Hon. the Lord Hermer KC · Attorney General's Office
27 Oct 2025
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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)
Title HC No. Published Items Response
2nd Report - Espionage cases and the Official Secrets Acts HC 1414 3 Dec 2025 21 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
3 results
Clear
1 Conclusion Not Addressed
2nd Report - Espionage cases and t…
The Crown Prosecution Service determined that it required specific evidence that China posed an “active...
The Crown Prosecution Service determined that it required specific evidence that China posed an “active threat” to UK national security at the relevant time, following a Court of Appeal ruling known as “Roussev”. It is not within the Committee’s remit … Read more
Government Response
The government's response focuses on clarifying the DNSA's witness statements and timelines rather than directly addressing the Committee's stated unclarity regarding the significant legal impact of the Roussev Court of Appeal ruling.
Cabinet Office
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2 Conclusion Not Addressed
2nd Report - Espionage cases and t…
The Deputy National Security Adviser (DNSA) would not describe China as posing an “active threat”...
The Deputy National Security Adviser (DNSA) would not describe China as posing an “active threat” to national security at the relevant time. We acknowledge the position from the Crown Prosecution Service that it would undermine their case that China represented … Read more
Government Response
The government welcomed the committee's findings of no improper influence or obstruction and a recommendation to consider support mechanisms for senior officials acting as witnesses. However, it did not directly address the committee's specific observation about the DNSA's phrasing regarding China as an 'active threat'.
Cabinet Office
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16 Conclusion Not Addressed
2nd Report - Espionage cases and t…
We regret that opportunities were not taken to inform the Attorney General of the situation...
We regret that opportunities were not taken to inform the Attorney General of the situation in greater detail earlier on and request his assistance insofar as would be constitutionally appropriate. (Conclusion, Paragraph 116) 50 Lessons learned
Government Response
The government did not address the Committee’s regret that opportunities were missed to inform the Attorney General earlier. Instead, it welcomed findings elsewhere in the report that cleared the government of improper influence or obstruction of the prosecution.
Cabinet Office
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Government Response AI assessment · 21 of 9 classified
Accepted 12
Accepted in Part 1
Acknowledged 4
Not Addressed 3
Rejected 1
Total 9 recs + 12 conclusions
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
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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
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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
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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)
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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
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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
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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
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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
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28 Oct 2025 To committee Letter from Lord Carlile of Berriew CBE KC relating to the dropped Chinese spy case, dated 20 October 2025
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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17 Oct 2025 From committee Letter to the National Security Adviser and Deputy National Security Adviser, relating to espionage cases, dated 17 October 2025
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17 Oct 2025 From committee Letter to the Cabinet Secretary, relating to espionage cases, dated 17 October 2025
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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
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