[email protected] Room 401 www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk 70 Whitehall London, SW1A 2AS

Paul Hanaphy By email: [email protected]

FOI Reference: FOI2021/08171

14 May 2021 Dear Paul Hanaphy

We refer to your request where you asked:

“Is there currently any live or planned investigation into the potential breaches of the Ministerial Code made by or regarding their roles in the Greensill scandal?

Anneliese Dodds recently alleged that Sunak gave the firm accelerated treatment and access to officials, constituting a potential breach of the Ministerial Code, while Hancock admitted to having dinner with Greensill and in 2019.

Also, has there been any official correspondence between the Prime Minister and Matt Hancock or Rishi Sunak on the issue? If so, can this be published?”

I am writing to confirm that in relation to your first question that the information requested is not held by the Cabinet Office.

Outside the terms of the Freedom of Information Act I can explain that this is because the provisions of the Ministerial Code (namely paragraph 1,4) which set out the steps to initiate an investigation under the Ministerial Code have not been engaged.

Rather, the Prime Minister has asked Mr Nigel Boardman to conduct a review that will look into the decisions taken around the development and use of supply chain finance (and associated schemes) in government, especially the role of Lex Greensill and . The terms of reference for this review have been published on gov.uk

and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/review-into-the- development-and-use-of-supply-chain-finance-in-government-terms-of-reference As the Terms of Reference set out, if matters arise which relate to misconduct, these can be referred to the appropriate process under the relevant Code or through Civil Service HR processes.

In relation to your second question and following a search of our paper and electronic records, I have established that the information you requested is not held by the Cabinet Office.

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request or wish to request an internal review, you should write to:

Rachel Anderson Head of Freedom of Information Cabinet Office 70 Whitehall London SW1A 2AS email: [email protected]

You should note that the Cabinet Office will not normally accept an application for internal review if it is received more than two months after the date that the reply was issued.

If you are not content with the outcome of your internal review, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by the Cabinet Office. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

The Information Commissioner’s Office Wycliffe House Water Lane Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF

Yours sincerely

FOI Team Cabinet Office