No second email system at No10 - Cabinet Secretary

Last updated at 16:19 06 February 2007


The Government's top civil servant said today the level of media attention being given to the cash-for-honours affair was "deeply worrying".

Cabinet Secretary Gus O'Donnell insisted he believed Downing Street was "complying fully" with all police requests, and dismissed reports of a hidden email system within No 10.

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Giving evidence to the Public Administration Committee, Sir Gus also said the Government was "getting on with things" as usual, and was not being hindered by the controversy.

Asked by chairman Tony Wright about allegations that a second system within Downing Street had been used to send emails relating to honours, the cabinet secretary said that in his former job as press officer he had learned not to believe everything he read.

"There's no second email system inside No 10.

"I find it deeply worrying just how much media coverage there is. That's all I can say."

Questioned on whether detectives had been given full access to all documentation, Sir Gus said police had accepted that they were receiving full cooperation previously.

"There's no reason to think that's changed," he added. "We've complied fully with all requests."

Sir Gus said he had a "full in-tray", and the Government had been discussing a wide range of policy issues.

Challenged on whether it was "government as usual" while the debate was raging over the cash-for-honours allegations, Sir Gus replied: "Absolutely, yes."

He added: "I think government's getting on with things. In that sense we carry on."

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