VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Ian Collard

Asked by Ben Obese-JectyConservativeForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled Answered 5 June 2026UIN 4881

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, for what reason her Department declined an invitation for Ian Collard, Director of Security, to give oral evidence to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee in April 2026.

Answered by Seema Malhotra

It is standard practice for government departments to agree with parliamentary committees the process by which evidence will be given by ministers and serving officials, and it is then for the committee in question to state whether they are satisfied that the agreed process has provided them with the evidence they require.

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