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The Welsh Government is understood to be trying to block the main inquiry into Carl Sargeant’s death from looking at the crucial four days between his sacking and his death.

Although Paul Bowen QC was announced as the chair of the inquiry more than five weeks ago, its terms of reference have yet to be agreed between lawyers acting for the Welsh Government and for Mr Sargeant’s family.

Carl Sargeant is thought to have taken his own life on November 7, four days after he was removed from his post as Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children following unspecified allegations of sexual harassment which he denied.

First Minister Carwyn Jones has been criticised for not telling Mr Sargeant the substance of the complaints against him; for asking a special adviser to carry out a preliminary investigation into the complaints against Mr Sargeant and handing the results to the Labour Party instead of referring Mr Sargeant to the Civil Service for investigation under the Ministerial Code; and over TV interviews he gave about the sacking.

(Image: Danny Lawson/PA Wire)

A political source told us: “The Welsh Government is trying to restrict the inquiry to looking at events up to the time when Carl was sacked rather than to when he died.

“It is absolutely crucial that the inquiry is able to look at what happened over the weekend and on the Monday.

“One can only speculate as to the reason why the Welsh Government would not want that period to be looked at.”

It is understood that the Sargeant family wants two further extensions to the terms of reference.

They also want it to look not just at the actions of Mr Jones, but at the actions of special advisers and civil servants who were working for him.

They also want the inquiry to look at the actions of relevant individuals who work for the Labour Party.

(Image: Matthew Horwood)

Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies said: “It’s imperative that the QC’s inquiry is able to probe all aspects leading up to, and including, the day of Carl’s death.

“Any prevarication from Welsh Government in this process, such as attempting to unreasonably narrow the scope of the investigation, will invite suspicion that they have something to hide.”

A spokeswoman for Permanent Secretary Dame Shan Morgan, the top civil servant who is acting on behalf of the Welsh Government in helping to set up the inquiry, said: “There is nothing to add currently to the letter the Permanent Secretary sent to AMs on January 25, 2018. The Permanent Secretary will write to AMs with an update in due course.”

The January 25 letter announced the appointment of Paul Bowen QC to chair the inquiry.

Meanwhile it continues to remain unclear whether Dame Shan will agree to publish an internal inquiry report into allegations that Mr Sargeant’s sacking was leaked in advance.

The report concluded there had been no “unauthorised disclosure” prior to the sacking, but there have been indications that some people outside the Welsh Government were aware of Mr Sargeant’s dismissal before he was.

(Image: Rob Browne)

On Wednesday AMs passed an Opposition motion calling for the report to be published in a redacted form, with the names of individuals left out. Labour AMs abstained.

Asked whether Dame Shan would now publish the report, a spokeswoman for the Permanent Secretary said: “There is nothing further to add to the points made by the Leader of the House during yesterday’s debate.

“The Permanent Secretary is considering the correspondence she has received in relation to the leak investigation.”

During Wednesday’s debate, Leader of the House Julie James said: “Clearly, if a leaked report were to be published, this could prejudice future leak inquiries by undermining confidence in the process of the investigation, and individuals being less prepared to provide evidence.

“If that were to happen, it would not be in the public interest.”