Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the answer of 16 December 2025 to Question 96684 on Tim Allan, whether Tim Allan was eligible in the future to exercise the share options set out in the 2024 Strand Partners company accounts lodged with Companies House.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
There is an established system in place for the declaration and management of special advisers' interests. As has been the case under successive administrations, interests deemed relevant for publication for special advisers in No10 and the Cabinet Office are published on an annual basis by the Cabinet Office. As set out in the answer referred to, before joining the government, Mr Allan sought and received advice on his interests. He followed the advice received.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, further to the publication of Cabinet Office Publication of Special Adviser Interests 2025-2026, on 16 July 2026, for what reason Tim Allan was not asked to dispose of her shareholdings in the four public affairs and public relations companies.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
There is an established system in place for the declaration and management of special advisers' interests. As has been the case under successive administrations, interests deemed relevant for publication for special advisers in No10 and the Cabinet Office are published on an annual basis by the Cabinet Office. As set out in the answer referred to, before joining the government, Mr Allan sought and received advice on his interests. He followed the advice received.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Cabinet Office, Briefing pack for the position of Director General, Propriety & Constitution, August 2026, page 3, for what reason there are three Deputy Directors for the Duty of Candour on the Cabinet Office organogram.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Duty of Candour Directorate contains three Deputy Directors. One is full-time, and the other two are part-time.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much money has been withheld for contracts with Capita across all Departments since the company took over administration of the Civil Service Pension Scheme; and if she will outline what penalties can be levied against the company for delivery failures.
Answered by Sally Jameson - Parliamentary Secretary and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Cabinet Office does not hold this information centrally. Individual Contracting Authorities are responsible for managing their own contracts with Capita, including any withholding of performance related payments, which are governed by specific contractual terms and subject to commercial confidentiality.
In relation to the contract for administration of the Civil Service Pension Scheme, which was awarded in 2023, the Cabinet Office has withheld £9.9 million in contract payments for undelivered milestones. In addition, the contract provides for remedies in the event of delivery failure, including the withholding of milestone payments and the application of service credits and other financial penalties in line with contractual performance measures.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Machinery of Government changes: Fact Sheet, published on 22 July 2026, what the estimated cost is of establishing the Office for the Prime Minister and Cabinet, including staffing, accommodation, information technology and branding costs.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
No10 North is central to the Prime Minister’s commitment to get good growth in every postcode, drive devolution, and bring Government closer to the communities it serves. Mayors, employers, councils, and public services, will work in equal partnership with central government so that decisions about this country’s economic future are no longer only taken in Westminster. The cost of establishing No 10 North is covered by existing departmental budgets. Staffing costs are regularly published on GOV.UK.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Machinery of Government changes: Fact Sheet, published on 22 July 2026, what the estimated cost is of establishing No.10 North, including accommodation, staffing and operational costs.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
No10 North is central to the Prime Minister’s commitment to get good growth in every postcode, drive devolution, and bring Government closer to the communities it serves. Mayors, employers, councils, and public services, will work in equal partnership with central government so that decisions about this country’s economic future are no longer only taken in Westminster. The cost of establishing No 10 North is covered by existing departmental budgets. Staffing costs are regularly published on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what was the total cost of facility time to (1) Cabinet Office and (2) the Office of the Prime Minister in (a) 2023-24, (b) 2024-25 and (c) 2025-26; and what was the headcount number of facility time staff in each; how many were 100% facility time; and whether funding was provided for trade union activities in each of those years.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Cabinet Office and the Office of the Prime Minister are managed as a single entity for staffing purposes; therefore, facility time costs and staffing figures are not separated. The total cost of facility time and the number of trade union representatives for the Cabinet Office (including the Prime Minister’s Office) for 2023-24 and 2024-25 can be found published online at the following website:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/public-sector-trade-union-facility-time-data
Facility time for 2025-26 was not reported, as it is no longer a requirement following the repeal of the Trade Union (Facility Time Publication Requirements) Regulations 2017 in February 2026. The Cabinet Office published facility time data for the last time in 2024-25. There were 0 employees with 100% facility time. Funding was not provided for trade union activities.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Morgan McSweeney was paid a severance payment when he left Crown Service.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
I refer the Rt Hon member to the answer of 5th June 2026, PQ 3299.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Major Projects Annual Report 2025 to 2026, Tables, Manchester Digital Campus, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the decision to locate Number 10 North on the current Delivery Confidence Assessment Rating.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Manchester Digital Campus represents a significant step in strengthening the Government presence in the North West. The Manchester Digital Campus continues to progress in line with the milestones and delivery confidence ratings published in the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Major Projects Annual Report 2025 to 2026.
Asked by: Danny Kruger (Reform UK - East Wiltshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 13 July 2026 to Question 16618, if she will list the names and professional affiliations of the expert advisers appointed to the Review; and what steps have been taken to declare, register, and manage conflicts of interest for each adviser.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
An external expert advisory panel is being constituted to inform the review. Conflicts of interest will be managed in line with the appropriate policy.