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Defence: Vetting

Asked by Steve BarclayConservativeCabinet OfficeTabled Answered 28 April 2026UIN 128669

The question

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what is the longest time that (a) an SME and (b) a person has waited for security vetting in the last two years; and whether either application is still ongoing.

Answered by Dan Jarvis

UKSV continues to meet its agreed KPIs across each product type. The time taken to complete a vetting assessment varies according to the level of clearance required and the complexity of an individual’s background.

In line with the practice followed by successive administrations, the Government does not disclose granular performance data or specific case details, as to do so could prejudice national security and provide insights into the operational thresholds of our security safeguards. UKSV remains focused on ensuring the vetting process is both rigorous and timely.

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