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New Forest East

PRIME MINISTER – MEETINGS WITH THE INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY COMMITTEE - 11 September 2023

PRIME MINISTER – MEETINGS WITH THE INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY COMMITTEE - 11 September 2023

Sir Julian Lewis: I welcome the robustness of the Prime Minister’s stance on Russia, but does he agree that there are aspects of other topics discussed at the G20, such as China, which he might not be able to discuss in full on the Floor of the House, but which he could discuss securely with the Intelligence and Security Committee? I should add, however, that whereas for the first 20 years of the Committee’s existence it had a meeting with the Prime Minister every single year, there has been no such meeting since December 2014, although, during her short term in office, this Prime Minister’s immediate predecessor did volunteer to reinstate such meetings. May I ask him whether he will do the same – reinstate the meetings and return to proper, comprehensive scrutiny?

[The Prime Minister: I shall be happy to consider my right hon. Friend’s request, but let me say in the meantime that I welcome the Committee’s report on China, and am grateful for all its efforts. The Government are considering its recommendations and conclusions carefully, and we will publish our response in due course and in the usual manner.]