00:00I accept that the sensitive personal information provided by an individual being vetted must
00:07be protected from disclosure. If that were not the case, the integrity of the whole process
00:15would be compromised. What I do not accept is that the appointing minister cannot be
00:22told of the recommendation by UKSV. Indeed, given the seriousness of these issues and the
00:31significance of the appointment, I simply do not accept that Foreign Office officials
00:37could not have informed me of UKSV's recommendations whilst also maintaining the necessary confidentiality
00:44that vetting requires. There is no law that stops civil servants sensibly flagging UKSV
00:52recommendations while protecting detailed sensitive vetting information to allow ministers
00:57to make judgments on appointments or explaining matters to Parliament. So let me be very clear,
01:04the recommendation in the Peter Mandelson case could and should have been shared with me
01:11before he took up his post. Mr Speaker, let me make a second point. If I had known before
01:21he took up his post that UKSV recommendation was that developed vetting clearance should
01:27be denied, I would not have gone ahead with the appointment.
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