Sir Gus clearly hasn't heard of mobile phones!

Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O’Donnell appeared before the Public Administration Select Committee earlier today as part of the Committee's inquiry into Whitehall leaks.

When asked why Sir David Normington, the Permanent Secretary of the Home Office, had not notified the Home Secretary immediately about the impending raid by the police on Damian Green's office and why it took a couple of hours before she was informed, Sir Gus said:

"I'm sure he [Sir David] would have tried to contact her as soon as possible, but she [Jacqui Smith] was in Brussels at the time."

Is that supposed to be an excuse? Has Sir Gus not heard of mobile phones? His statement before the Committee was just not credible! If it was decided she should have known, it was surely not beyond the capabilities of our civil service to inform the Home Secretary immediately, even if she was in Brussels!