“Of course, the public have a right to see material that is relevant,” Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson told the BBC.
A senior government official, granted anonymity because they are not authorized to speak on the record, indicated the government is unlikely to block the Lib Dem motion, which will be debated in the House of Commons later Tuesday.
Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested last week on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was released under investigation on the same day.
The former prince has faced multiple allegations over his links to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, including claims that he passed confidential documents to Epstein while he was serving as a British trade envoy between 2001 and 2011. He has strenuously and repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. He was stripped of his titles last year.
The U.K. royal — brother of King Charles III — held the role of special representative for international trade and investment between 2001 and 2011 after being appointed by the Labour government at the time.
The Liberal Democrat motion requests “all papers” relating to the creation of the role and Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment to the role. It also requests documents relating to advice provided to the then-prime minister Tony Blair “regarding the suitability of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor for the appointment, due diligence and vetting conducted in relation to the appointment, and minutes of meetings and electronic communications regarding the due diligence and vetting.”