Asked by: Baroness Finn (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 21 July (HLWS867), whether the new Business Appointment Rules administered by the Civil Service Commission will apply to all special advisers, including those below Senior Civil Service Pay Band 2, or only to those previously covered by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Special Adviser Code of Conduct sets out that Special Advisers are subject to the Business Appointment Rules for civil servants. Special advisers that currently submit applications to ACOBA will, following the transfer of functions, submit applications to the Civil Service Commission. All other Special Advisers will follow their usual process as set out in the Business Appointment Rules guidance.
Asked by: Baroness Finn (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 21 July (HLWS867), what legal mechanism will be used to require a minister to repay severance payments following a breach of the Business Appointment Rules.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Ministerial Code is clear that the Business Appointment Rules apply to former ministers after they leave office.
Ministers will also be expected to sign waivers to confirm that they will repay their severance payment in the event they are found to have seriously breached the Business Appointment Rules.
Asked by: Baroness Jenkin of Kennington (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the policy of the Government Property Agency on gender neutral toilets in government buildings outside of England where the statutory guidance Toilet Accommodation: Approved Document T, updated on 1 October 2024, does not apply.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government Property Agency (GPA) follows the building regulations and relevant legislation of the devolved nations it is operating in.
The GPA has adopted the principles laid out in Toilet Accommodation: Approved Document T into its Workplace Design guidance.
Asked by: Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what are the duties of the civil servant listed in the Cabinet Office organogram published on 20 February as “Deputy Director – Meaningful Work”.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
I refer the Noble Lord to the answer on 9 June 2025 (PQ HC54763).
PQ 54763: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 12 May 2025 to Question 49766 on Cabinet Office; staff, what are the job responsibilities of the Deputy Director for Meaningful Work.
Answer: There is no Deputy Director for Meaningful Work. Meaningful work refers to work that an employee must be provided with and undertake during the redeployment process. The nature of the work should be appropriate for their grade, skills and competencies and may take place within or outside of their existing business area.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what criteria they will use in the review, due in 2026, to decide whether to publish retained papers relating to allegations of a security service plot against Harold Wilson.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Records relating to the above matter will be reviewed in accordance with the requirements of the Public Records Act 1958.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to include special advisors within the scope of the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 using the powers in section 2(5) of that Act.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government is committed to transparency and has already taken a number of steps to restore trust in politics. The Government currently has no plans to bring Special Advisers within the scope of the Lobbying Act, although it continues to keep transparency and lobbying under review.
Asked by: Lord Wharton of Yarm (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Prime Minister has taken financial support or benefits in kind from anyone associated with Bangladesh’s Awami League party since July 2024.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
I refer the Noble Lord to the Register of Members' Financial Interests.
Asked by: Earl of Clancarty (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress is being made in the development of a youth mobility scheme between the UK and the EU; and when they expect such a scheme to be introduced.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We have agreed that we will work towards the establishment of a balanced youth experience scheme with the EU. We have agreed that any scheme will be capped as well as time-limited. We have also been clear that it should be in line with the UK’s existing schemes with countries like Australia and New Zealand. The exact parameters will be subject to discussion in the next phase of the negotiations.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 7 July 2025 to Question 63624 on Admiralty House: Energy Performance Certificates, if he will place the three EPCs for the Admiralty House flats in the Library.
Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Where a building has an EPC the information on EPC ratings can be found at https://www.gov.uk/find-energy-certificate/Admiralty-House.
Asked by: Baroness Finn (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the speech delivered by the Prime Minister at the Cambridgeshire Police headquarters on 10 April was written in whole or in part by (1) special advisers, (2) permanent civil servants, or (3) the 10 Downing Street political office.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The visit in question was initially designated as an official event. It was subsequently rescheduled and redesignated as a political event. No further support was provided by permanent civil servants after this point.