The housing, communities and local government select committee has called on housing secretary Robert Jenrick to answer questions and give public evidence on his conduct in the approval of Richard Desmond’s £1bn Westferry Printworks.
Committee chair Clive Betts has written to Jenrick asking 26 questions that should be answered by 6 July, ahead of his public evidence session on 13 July.
His demands follow the government’s release of e-mails and text messages between Jenrick, his department, Desmond and employees at Northern & Shell, revealing a drive to hurry the approval to avoid a £45m CIL charge,
Betts said: “The committee respectfully disagrees with the prime minister’s assertion that ‘the matter is closed’ and believes that there are important lessons that must be learned.”
He noted that the documents contain “most, but not all” of the information provided to cabinet secretary Mark Sedwill and said the high-profile case required further scrutiny.
He added: “The documents do clearly demonstrate that serious mistakes were made during this process, and that these put into doubt your ability to act as a neutral arbiter in this case and created a strong perception of bias.”
Betts and the committee have asked Jenrick to explain requirements to avoid conflict of interest and if these had been met during the dinner and at any point afterwards. He has asked what Jenrick knew of the application prior to 18 November, what happened at that meeting and why the housing secretary initiated further contact.
Texts released last month reveal that Jenrick had started a conversation that evening, planning a future meeting with the developer.
Texts, 18 November
RJ: Good to spend time with you tonight Richard. See you again soon I hope. Robert Jenrick
RD: Thanks Robert I really appreciate your text Will call your office tomorrow to arrange Very best Richard
RJ: I’d like that. See you soon. Robert
The committee has asked for further information regarding the timing, the CIL charge, affordable housing and Jenrick motivations in his final decision to approve the scheme.
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