Speaker reassures MPs over server

Michael Martin has said he regrets that police searched the Commons without a warrant

Speaker Michael Martin has told MPs that confidential information held on Parliament's server was not accessed by police searching Damian Green's office.

Several MPs had raised concerns after the police raid and seizure of material from the shadow immigration minister's office as part of a leaks inquiry.

Mr Martin said "no access" was given and in future, a warrant would be required before access was granted.

Many MPs say the Speaker should have stopped police entering the Commons.

Two Parliamentary inquiries have been ordered but another probe announced by the Speaker is being boycotted.

Many MPs are concerned that police were allowed to search Mr Green's Westminster office 11 days ago without a warrant.

Inquiry controversy

Mr Martin has expressed regret that this was allowed to happen but the inquiry by senior MPs he announced to look into the issue has become dogged by political controversy.

The government narrowly won a vote in the Commons on Monday on the terms of the inquiry and the make-up of the committee but opposition parties immediately said they would not take part.

I hope that we can conduct the inquiry quickly and efficiently Keith Vaz MP

Home Affairs committee chair Keith Vaz was among 29 Labour rebels who voted for an immediate inquiry.

His committee will hold an inquiry into the "police aspects and processes" as part of a Home Office leaks inquiry.

Meanwhile the Commons Public Administration Committee is to look into "leaks and whistleblowing in Whitehall".

Mr Vaz said his committee's own inquiry was in the public interest.

"This is an important inquiry and it is vital that the issues of political involvement in police matters and the process of arrests of this kind are thoroughly examined," he said.

The terms of reference of the investigation have yet to be decided but Mr Vaz said they would cover "the police processes and the involvement, if any, of political figures in these matters".

"I hope that we can conduct the inquiry quickly and efficiently in order to ensure that best practice recommendations can be made as soon as possible," he added.

Mr Green was held for nine hours and his offices searched as part of a inquiry into allegations of co-ordinated leaks from the Home Office.

Mr Green has denied any wrongdoing, saying the leaked material he received was merely embarrassing for ministers and did not pose a threat to national security.