The Privy Council Office is neither an investigating authority nor independent. That is the key point here.
I want to turn to the part of Mr. Walbourne's testimony that you have actually confirmed today, and this is that you refused to look at the evidence he was presenting on the accusations of serious sexual misconduct against the chief of the defence staff.
You refused to look at that information. I have tried, for the life of me, to figure out why you would not look at that. There was no investigation taking place at that time. What could the possible reasons be?
I'm going to suggest there are two possible reasons. One is that you didn't want to see the evidence of misconduct against General Vance because you have a long personal, professional and career relationship with the general. The second possibility is that you did not want to see the evidence because, as Major Brennan has told the media, knowledge of General Vance's sexual misconduct allegations was widespread among the senior leadership.
Did you not want to see this evidence because you were afraid you knew what was there?