ministerial

That number will be narrowed down to two -- or even one -- at the agency's ministerial council in the German city of Bremen next month, Aschbacher said.

Sunak was told not to advise on bidding for UK contracts, or to lobby the government for two years from his last day in ministerial office.

Conservative MP Alicia Kearns, who previously employed Mr Cash as a parliamentary researcher, said it was "inexplicable" that the trial would have collapsed "without either ministerial or national security advisor or executive involvement".

Fracking is currently only limited by a suspension on ministerial decisions to grant licences.

Ross asked for a formal investigation on whether Hepburn breached the ministerial code, saying his behaviour had fallen "well below the standards" for ministers.