HC Deb 10 June 1997 vol 295 cc391-2W
Dr. Mawhinney

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the names of those normally at present employed to work in(a) 10 Downing Street and (b) the Cabinet Office who have seen, or had access to classified documents, prior to receiving security clearance, since 1 May. [2559]

Mr. Beith

To ask the Prime Minister if Mr. Jonathan Powell will have access to all levels of advice and papers relating to intelligence and security. [2813]

The Prime Minister

[holding answer 9 June 1997]: My Chief of Staff, Jonathan Powell, may from time to time need to have access to sensitive intelligence material. He has previously been positively vetted, and his vetting is now being renewed. Pending the completion of that process, the security and intelligence agencies have been consulted about what material he should see and their recommendations are being followed.

Special advisers in my office are, as a matter of routine, being positively vetted, though I do not expect them to have access, for example, to sensitive intelligence material.