Cabinet Office

The visit was part of the Prime Minister's trip to Washington. During this visit the Prime Minister listened to a short presentation about Palantir’s work, followed by a tour of the premises and an introduction to members of staff.

In December 2025, the MOD signed an extension to the Enterprise Agreement with Palantir that had been initially awarded in November 2022, by the previous Government, and via a direct award. This extension covered existing services and ensured there was no drop-off in MOD capability in critical areas.

This contract - and all other contracts for any firm - go through the usual rigorous departmental processes and their decision makers.

The visit was part of the Prime Minister's trip to Washington. During this visit the Prime Minister listened to a short presentation about Palantir’s work, followed by a tour of the premises and an introduction to members of staff.

In December 2025, the MOD signed an extension to the Enterprise Agreement with Palantir that had been initially awarded in November 2022, by the previous Government, and via a direct award. This extension covered existing services and ensured there was no drop-off in MOD capability in critical areas.

This contract - and all other contracts for any firm - go through the usual rigorous departmental processes and their decision makers.

The visit was part of the Prime Minister's trip to Washington. During this visit the Prime Minister listened to a short presentation about Palantir’s work, followed by a tour of the premises and an introduction to members of staff.

In December 2025, the MOD signed an extension to the Enterprise Agreement with Palantir that had been initially awarded in November 2022, by the previous Government, and via a direct award. This extension covered existing services and ensured there was no drop-off in MOD capability in critical areas.

This contract - and all other contracts for any firm - go through the usual rigorous departmental processes and their decision makers.

All model policies provided by the Cabinet Office for departmental use are kept under continuous review. Any review of the model Gender Identity and Intersex Policy will be impacted by factors such as the Supreme Court Ruling in the For Women Scotland case.

Individuals appointed as National Security Adviser go through an extensive process which includes National Security Vetting (NSV). National Security Vetting for the current National Security Adviser was conducted to the usual standard set for Developed Vetting.

It is long-standing practice that the government does not comment on individual vetting cases.

I refer the Hon Member to my previous answers [41868 and 40911]. Details of ministers’ official meetings with all external individuals and organisations are published on a quarterly basis.The Cabinet Office also publishes a monthly register of all gifts and hospitality received by ministers in a ministerial capacity. There are no current plans to include representatives of social media companies under the guidance for senior media figures.

The arrangements relating to the usage of vehicles in the Government Car Service are set out in the Civil Service Management Code and the Ministerial Code.

As a matter of policy, the Government does not publish information relating to individuals' peerage nominations.

The current guidance was issued under the previous government. As part of this government’s commitment to raise information security standards, we plan to review both the way that non-corporate communication channels are used in Government and the 2023 guidance itself to reflect the changes in the ways we use technology.

As Ambassador to the United States, Peter Mandelson was appointed by the Prime Minister.

There is no record of receipt of Lord Glasman’s report in the Prime Minister’s Office.

I refer you to the Government's response to the Urgent Question tabled on 12th February, the Written Ministerial Statement in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister that same day, and Oral Statement on the 23 February which set out an update on the Government's process for complying with the Humble Address motion. We will set out further details in due course. The Government wishes to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.

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 has followed every element of the advice received.

The maximum cap for a Voluntary Exit (VE) or Voluntary Redundancy (VR) scheme relates to a salary cap of £149,820, mandatory for calculating higher value exit payments. There is no overall maximum cap, although exit offers should provide value for money. Pension top-ups are only mandatory for a VR scheme.

For both VE and VR, the minimum qualifying service is two years, although departments may exercise discretion.

The National Security Adviser engages with a range of states and organisations as part of his role providing advice to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet on national security matters, including the United States which remains our most important security partner. Such meetings are often sensitive in nature, and the Government does not routinely comment on them or their content.

Following the first UK-EU Summit in 2025, the Government published its assessment of the SPS agreement and the agreement to link Emissions Trading Systems. These measures alone are set to add nearly £9 billion a year to the UK economy by 2040.

This government has also agreed significant trade deals with the US and India. For example, the UK is the only country with wide reaching zero tariff commitments on pharmaceuticals with the US. In 2024, UK exports of pharmaceutical products to the US were worth over £5 billion. The manufacture of pharmaceutical products contributed £25 billion to the UK economy in 2024. The SPS deal with the EU does not affect this.

The Cabinet Office collects some data on projected exits through its management of the Redundancy and Compensation control. This data can not be published and remains confidential.

The Cabinet Office does not hold a record of the official and/or Minister who authorised the Cabinet Office guidance on facility time, when the guidance was first published in 2012.

The Cabinet Office has recently engaged social media influencers to support international campaigns, including the United States and France.

I refer the Hon Member to Question 113587.

The Roll of the Peerage was established by Royal Warrant in June 2004. There is no set criteria for removal from the Roll of the Peerage but, under the terms of the Warrant, any person entered on the Roll may apply to be removed from it.

The Government has announced that it will introduce legislation to allow peerages to be removed from disgraced peers.

Missions Boards, including their membership, are the responsibility of each of the lead Secretaries of State:

Kickstarting Economic Growth - Chancellor of the Exchequer

An NHS Fit for the Future - Secretary of State for Health

Safer Streets - Secretary of State for the Home Department

Break Down Barriers to Opportunity - Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities

Make Britain a Clean Energy Superpower - Secretary of State for Energy and Net Zero

The Government believes the filtering process MPs facilitate continues to provide an effective way to empower backbenchers to hold the executive to account and emphasises the Ombudsman’s position as a servant of Parliament.

We have no plans to amend the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 at this time.

The requirements to conduct appropriate due diligence for regulated public appointments and direct ministerial appointments are set out in the Governance Code on Public Appointments and the Guidance on Making Direct Ministerial Appointments respectively, both of which are publicly available. The specific due diligence processes undertaken in each case will be those standard processes agreed by the Accounting Officer within each department for all appropriate due diligence undertaken by that department.

As with other civil servants, special advisers are subject to pre-employment checks and declaration of relevant interests. This is set out in the Code of Conduct and Model Contract for Special Advisers.

The Government Art Collection website has all artworks belonging to the Collection and their current location. It is possible to search for all artworks in a specific location.

No.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer given on the 29 January 2025, Official Report, PQ 25454.

Staff are required to dress appropriately for their roles.

I refer you to the Government's response to the Urgent Question tabled on 12th February, the Written Ministerial Statement in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister that same day, and Oral Statement on the 23 February which set out an update on the Government's process for complying with the Humble Address motion. We will set out further details in due course. The Government wishes to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.

I refer you to the Government's response to the Urgent Question tabled on 12th February, the Written Ministerial Statement in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister that same day, and Oral Statement on the 23 February which set out an update on the Government's process for complying with the Humble Address motion. We will set out further details in due course. The Government wishes to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.

I refer you to the Government's response to the Urgent Question tabled on 12th February, the Written Ministerial Statement in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister that same day, and Oral Statement on the 23 February which set out an update on the Government's process for complying with the Humble Address motion. We will set out further details in due course. The Government wishes to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.

I refer you to the Government's response to the Urgent Question tabled on 12th February, the Written Ministerial Statement in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister that same day, and Oral Statement on the 23 February which set out an update on the Government's process for complying with the Humble Address motion. We will set out further details in due course. The Government wishes to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.

The Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister was referring to the Act passed in 1478 depriving George Nevile, the then-Duke of Bedford, of his peerage.

The following correction has been issued to Hansard:

… I have been informed that a Bill of that nature has not been brought before Parliament since 1478—[Interruption.] No, the 1917 Bill was about a collective group of peers who had been, I think, collaborating with the Germans around the first world war.

It would not be appropriate to comment on individual staffing matters.

Palantir is not a strategic supplier and therefore information held by the Cabinet Office is limited.

Details of central government contracts above £12,000 for procurements commenced before 24 February 2025 are published on Contracts Finder.

Contracts procured under the Procurement Act 2023, which came into force on 24 February 2025, are published on the Central Digital Platform Find a Tender service.

The Government strongly supports the principle of provision of inclusive PPE. PPE should be suitable for all workers, including groups who may be disproportionately impacted by ill-fitting equipment.

The British Standards Institution have been invited to present on BS30417 to officials working in construction procurements. Central government commercial teams have seen increased provision of inclusive PPE across our strategic suppliers, and on our major projects and programmes.

Details of central government contracts above £12,000 for procurements commenced before 24 February 2025 are published on Contracts Finder. Contracts procured under the Procurement Act 2023, which came into force on 24 February 2025, are published on the Central Digital Platform Find a Tender service.

The details published online include whether each contract was let through competitive tendering or via direct award.

Thank you for your question. The Minister for the Cabinet Office has met with the Capita CEO on this issue. Cabinet Office officials also have been and remain in daily contact with Capita to progress the recovery plan, and keep Ministers informed of progress regularly.

The Cabinet Office awarded the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme to Capita in November 2023 under the previous government.

The issues and delays facing a number of civil servants and pension scheme members in accessing their pensions are unacceptable.

No former civil servant should be facing financial hardship as a result of delays to their pension. Arrangements are in place for interest-free bridging loans of up to £5,000 (and up to £10,000 in exceptional cases) to most recent retirees facing payment delays. This is alongside interim lump sum payments being made to provide immediate funds to retiring members.

Additionally, interest will be paid on delayed benefits to avoid financial loss by members.

There is already a statutory complaints procedure in place that can be used for formal complaints that will determine whether compensation is appropriate on a case by case basis. This is run in accordance with the standards set by the Pensions Ombudsman.

A response has been issued here 107963.

The Cabinet Office awarded the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme to Capita in November 2023 under the previous government.

The issues and delays facing a number of civil servants and pension scheme members in accessing their pensions are unacceptable.

Interest-free loans of £5,000 (up to £10,000 in exceptional cases) are available for the overwhelming majority of members of the Civil Service Pension Scheme whose pensions are overdue.

Alongside these arrangements, Capita has prioritised payment of tax-free pension lump sums for members who had received quotations but were not in receipt of their benefits, with the vast majority of these having been paid in February.

The focus is on returning services to normal. Huge efforts and stops have been put in place to ensure this happens as soon as possible.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Rt Hon. gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 26th February is attached.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Rt Hon. gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 26th February is attached.

Under HMRC rules, severance payments for special advisers are taxable as earnings because they are a contractual entitlement.