Cabinet Office

We support the Prime Minister and ensure the effective running of government. We are also the corporate headquarters for government, in partnership with HM Treasury, and we take the lead in certain critical policy areas.



Secretary of State

Rishi Sunak
Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, and Minister for the Union

 Portrait

Oliver Dowden
Secretary of State in the Cabinet Office

 Portrait

Oliver Dowden
Deputy Prime Minister

Shadow Ministers / Spokeperson
Democratic Unionist Party
Gregory Campbell (DUP - East Londonderry)
Shadow DUP Spokesperson (Cabinet Office)

Plaid Cymru
Hywel Williams (PC - Arfon)
Shadow PC Spokesperson (Cabinet Office)

Liberal Democrat
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD - Life peer)
Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Cabinet Office)
Christine Jardine (LD - Edinburgh West)
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Cabinet Office)

Scottish National Party
Kirsty Blackman (SNP - Aberdeen North)
Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Cabinet Office)

Labour
Angela Rayner (Lab - Ashton-under-Lyne)
Shadow Deputy Prime Minister
Junior Shadow Ministers / Deputy Spokesperson
Labour
Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab - Life peer)
Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office
Pat McFadden (Lab - Wolverhampton South East)
Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Nick Thomas-Symonds (Lab - Torfaen)
Shadow Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
Nia Griffith (Lab - Llanelli)
Shadow Minister (Cabinet Office)
Ministers of State
Baroness Neville-Rolfe (Con - Life peer)
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
Baroness Neville-Rolfe (Con - Life peer)
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
Oliver Dowden (Con - Hertsmere)
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Johnny Mercer (Con - Plymouth, Moor View)
Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
Nusrat Ghani (Con - Wealden)
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
Richard Holden (Con - North West Durham)
Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
John Glen (Con - Salisbury)
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Esther McVey (Con - Tatton)
Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State
Alok Sharma (Con - Reading West)
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
Alex Burghart (Con - Brentwood and Ongar)
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Scheduled Event
Wednesday 20th March 2024
Cabinet Office
Legislation - Main Chamber
Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill – committee stage (day 1)
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Scheduled Event
Wednesday 20th March 2024
12:00
Cabinet Office
Prime Minister's Question Time - Main Chamber
20 Mar 2024, noon

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Scheduled Event
Wednesday 17th April 2024
Cabinet Office
Legislation - Main Chamber
Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill – committee stage (day 2)
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Scheduled Event
Wednesday 17th April 2024
12:00
Cabinet Office
Prime Minister's Question Time - Main Chamber
17 Apr 2024, noon

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Scheduled Event
Wednesday 24th April 2024
12:00
Cabinet Office
Prime Minister's Question Time - Main Chamber
24 Apr 2024, noon

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Scheduled Event
Thursday 25th April 2024
09:30
Cabinet Office
Oral questions - Main Chamber
25 Apr 2024, 9:30 a.m.
Cabinet Office (including Topical Questions)
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Scheduled Event
Wednesday 1st May 2024
12:00
Cabinet Office
Prime Minister's Question Time - Main Chamber
1 May 2024, noon

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Scheduled Event
Wednesday 8th May 2024
12:00
Cabinet Office
Prime Minister's Question Time - Main Chamber
8 May 2024, noon

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Debates
Wednesday 13th March 2024
Select Committee Docs
None available
Select Committee Inquiry
None available
Written Answers
Monday 18th March 2024
Infrastructure: Cybersecurity
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the data breach experienced by Southern Water as a result of a cyber-attack, what …
Secondary Legislation
Wednesday 31st January 2024
Windsor Framework (UK Internal Market and Unfettered Access) Regulations 2024
These Regulations amend the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 and the Definition of Qualifying Northern Ireland Goods (EU Exit) …
Bills
Tuesday 15th November 2022
Counsellors of State Act 2022
A Bill to add His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex and Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal to the …
Dept. Publications
Monday 18th March 2024
16:00

Guidance

Cabinet Office Commons Appearances

Oral Answers to Questions is a regularly scheduled appearance where the Secretary of State and junior minister will answer at the Dispatch Box questions from backbench MPs

Other Commons Chamber appearances can be:
  • Urgent Questions where the Speaker has selected a question to which a Minister must reply that day
  • Adjornment Debates a 30 minute debate attended by a Minister that concludes the day in Parliament.
  • Oral Statements informing the Commons of a significant development, where backbench MP's can then question the Minister making the statement.

Westminster Hall debates are performed in response to backbench MPs or e-petitions asking for a Minister to address a detailed issue

Written Statements are made when a current event is not sufficiently significant to require an Oral Statement, but the House is required to be informed.

Most Recent Commons Appearances by Category
Feb. 29
Oral Questions
Jan. 24
Urgent Questions
Mar. 11
Written Statements
Feb. 21
Westminster Hall
Feb. 19
Adjournment Debate
View All Cabinet Office Commons Contibutions

Bills currently before Parliament

Cabinet Office does not have Bills currently before Parliament


Acts of Parliament created in the 2019 Parliament

Introduced: 11th May 2022

A Bill to make provision about procurement

This Bill received Royal Assent on 26th October 2023 and was enacted into law.

Introduced: 15th November 2022

A Bill to add His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex and Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal to the persons to whom royal functions may be delegated as Counsellors of State.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 6th December 2022 and was enacted into law.

Introduced: 12th May 2021

A Bill to make provision about the dissolution and calling of Parliament, including provision for the repeal of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011; and for connected purposes.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 24th March 2022 and was enacted into law.

Introduced: 30th December 2020

A Bill to Implement, and make other provision in connection with, the Trade and Cooperation Agreement; to make further provision in connection with the United Kingdom’s future relationship with the EU and its member States; to make related provision about passenger name record data, customs and privileges and immunities; and for connected purposes.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 30th December 2020 and was enacted into law.

Introduced: 19th May 2020

A Bill to make provision about reports of the Boundary Commissions under the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986; to make provision about the number of parliamentary constituencies and other rules for the distribution of seats; and for connected purposes.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 14th December 2020 and was enacted into law.

Cabinet Office - Secondary Legislation

These Regulations amend the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 and the Definition of Qualifying Northern Ireland Goods (EU Exit) Regulations 2020.
This Order amends Schedule 1 to the Superannuation Act 1972 (“the Act”). Section 1 of the Act permits the Minister for the Civil Service to make schemes which make provision for pension and other benefits in respect of civil servants and persons serving in an office or employment listed in Schedule 1 to the Act. The Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme, the Civil Service Additional Voluntary Contribution Scheme, the Civil Service Compensation Scheme and the Civil Service Injury Benefit Scheme are some of the schemes that have been made under section 1 of the Act.
View All Cabinet Office Secondary Legislation

Petitions

e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.

If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.

If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).

Trending Petitions
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Petitions with most signatures
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5,656 Signatures
(134 in the last 7 days)
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3,836 Signatures
(764 in the last 7 days)
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3,504 Signatures
(308 in the last 7 days)
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2,560 Signatures
(11 in the last 7 days)
Petition Open
2,523 Signatures
(6 in the last 7 days)
Petition Debates Contributed

Call an immediate general election so that the people can decide who should lead us through the unprecedented crises threatening the UK.

The individual must remain sovereign over their own body, discrimination against those who cannot or will not be vaccinated against COVID is incompatible with a free democracy. The Government must take firm action to prevent 'vaccination passports' and discriminatory 'no jab, no job' policies.

288,042
Petition Closed
4 Feb 2024
closed 1 month, 2 weeks ago

The Prime Minister should call an immediate general election to allow the British public to have their say on how we are governed, we should not be made to wait until January 2025

View All Cabinet Office Petitions

50 most recent Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department

29th Feb 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government how many people are currently awaiting security vetting by United Kingdom Security Vetting.

As Minister for State at the Cabinet Office I am able to provide a response in relation to National Security Vetting (NSV). UKSV acts as the service provider for NSV across His Majesty’s Government (HMG). NSV remains a separate and distinct process to recruitment and onboarding processes and provides an additional personnel assurance within both public and private sector for roles and projects that require access to the sensitive assets and Protectively Marked Materials (PMM).

The government does not comment on the workings of the NSV process at the strategic or tactical level for security reasons and thereby details of numbers awaiting NSV cannot be shared. However the following information may be useful.

The Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) is not a level of NSV, nor conducted by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV); it is a separate pre-employment check conducted locally by recruiting departments. As this is a localised departmental element, no central record of data for BPSS is held within HMG at this time.

Following a stabilisation programme initiated in 2023, there have been sustained and stable improvements in performance against Key Performance Indicators (KPI) across all service levels of National Security Vetting clearances which includes Counter Terrorist Check (CTC), Security Check (SC) and Developed Vetting (DV). Across core services:

  • Accreditation Checks (AC), a level of NSV, primarily used by the aviation industry, are being completed in five days or less.

  • The KPIs for both CTC and SC are 25 days, on 29th February 2024 96% of cases were being processed within that time frame.

  • The KPI for DV is 95 days; on 29th February 2024 93.48% of initial DV cases were being processed within that time frame.The Performance Indicator for DV Renewals is also 95 days; on 29th February 2024 13.78% of these cases were being processed within that time frame. However we expect that DV renewals submitted from 1st April 2024 will be delivered within the KPI of 95 days.

The requirements for security cleared roles across HMG vary and are set by individual department and partner agencies dependent on duties and level of access to Protectively Marked Materials (PMM). It is, therefore, not possible to provide confirmation of the performance of NSV in relation to specific roles. In line with the practice followed by successive administrations, the Government does not otherwise comment on security matters, including average actual processing times.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
29th Feb 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government how many people employed by the private sector are currently awaiting security vetting by United Kingdom Security Vetting.

As Minister for State at the Cabinet Office I am able to provide a response in relation to National Security Vetting (NSV). UKSV acts as the service provider for NSV across His Majesty’s Government (HMG). NSV remains a separate and distinct process to recruitment and onboarding processes and provides an additional personnel assurance within both public and private sector for roles and projects that require access to the sensitive assets and Protectively Marked Materials (PMM).

The government does not comment on the workings of the NSV process at the strategic or tactical level for security reasons and thereby details of numbers awaiting NSV cannot be shared. However the following information may be useful.

The Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) is not a level of NSV, nor conducted by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV); it is a separate pre-employment check conducted locally by recruiting departments. As this is a localised departmental element, no central record of data for BPSS is held within HMG at this time.

Following a stabilisation programme initiated in 2023, there have been sustained and stable improvements in performance against Key Performance Indicators (KPI) across all service levels of National Security Vetting clearances which includes Counter Terrorist Check (CTC), Security Check (SC) and Developed Vetting (DV). Across core services:

  • Accreditation Checks (AC), a level of NSV, primarily used by the aviation industry, are being completed in five days or less.

  • The KPIs for both CTC and SC are 25 days, on 29th February 2024 96% of cases were being processed within that time frame.

  • The KPI for DV is 95 days; on 29th February 2024 93.48% of initial DV cases were being processed within that time frame.The Performance Indicator for DV Renewals is also 95 days; on 29th February 2024 13.78% of these cases were being processed within that time frame. However we expect that DV renewals submitted from 1st April 2024 will be delivered within the KPI of 95 days.

The requirements for security cleared roles across HMG vary and are set by individual department and partner agencies dependent on duties and level of access to Protectively Marked Materials (PMM). It is, therefore, not possible to provide confirmation of the performance of NSV in relation to specific roles. In line with the practice followed by successive administrations, the Government does not otherwise comment on security matters, including average actual processing times.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
29th Feb 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the average wait time for each of the eight levels of security vetting by United Kingdom Security Vetting, from 'Baseline Personnel Security Standard' to 'Enhanced Developed Vetting'.

As Minister for State at the Cabinet Office I am able to provide a response in relation to National Security Vetting (NSV). UKSV acts as the service provider for NSV across His Majesty’s Government (HMG). NSV remains a separate and distinct process to recruitment and onboarding processes and provides an additional personnel assurance within both public and private sector for roles and projects that require access to the sensitive assets and Protectively Marked Materials (PMM).

The government does not comment on the workings of the NSV process at the strategic or tactical level for security reasons and thereby details of numbers awaiting NSV cannot be shared. However the following information may be useful.

The Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) is not a level of NSV, nor conducted by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV); it is a separate pre-employment check conducted locally by recruiting departments. As this is a localised departmental element, no central record of data for BPSS is held within HMG at this time.

Following a stabilisation programme initiated in 2023, there have been sustained and stable improvements in performance against Key Performance Indicators (KPI) across all service levels of National Security Vetting clearances which includes Counter Terrorist Check (CTC), Security Check (SC) and Developed Vetting (DV). Across core services:

  • Accreditation Checks (AC), a level of NSV, primarily used by the aviation industry, are being completed in five days or less.

  • The KPIs for both CTC and SC are 25 days, on 29th February 2024 96% of cases were being processed within that time frame.

  • The KPI for DV is 95 days; on 29th February 2024 93.48% of initial DV cases were being processed within that time frame.The Performance Indicator for DV Renewals is also 95 days; on 29th February 2024 13.78% of these cases were being processed within that time frame. However we expect that DV renewals submitted from 1st April 2024 will be delivered within the KPI of 95 days.

The requirements for security cleared roles across HMG vary and are set by individual department and partner agencies dependent on duties and level of access to Protectively Marked Materials (PMM). It is, therefore, not possible to provide confirmation of the performance of NSV in relation to specific roles. In line with the practice followed by successive administrations, the Government does not otherwise comment on security matters, including average actual processing times.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
13th Mar 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the preliminary report by Sir Anthony Duff into the events outside the Libyan People’s Bureau and murder of PC Yvonne Fletcher on 17 April 1984, dated 29 April 1984.

The murder of PC Yvonne Fletcher was one of the most notorious crimes of the past 40 years and my thoughts remain with all who loved her.

However, as is usual in the case of records relating to security and intelligence matters, the report and the other records relating to this matter have been retained in line with the Public Records Act 1958.

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
13th Mar 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many files relating to the death of PC Yvonne Fletcher that are not classified have been published.

The murder of PC Yvonne Fletcher was one of the most notorious crimes of the past 40 years and my thoughts remain with all who loved her.

However, as is usual in the case of records relating to security and intelligence matters, the report and the other records relating to this matter have been retained in line with the Public Records Act 1958.

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
7th Mar 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department issues guidance for Departments on ensuring (a) fiscal responsibility and (b) propriety in international contract management.

a) Senior commercial professionals in central government are required to hold a commercial accreditation that demonstrates they meet the People Standards, as agreed by the Civil Service Board. The Commercial accreditation process involves a rigorous day-long capability assessment and ensures that responsible individuals have the commercial skills required to execute their fiscal responsibilities.

b) Professionals responsible for management of relevant international programmes within the FCDO are required to complete the Contract Management Capability Programme, which is grounded in the Contract Management People Standards. The Programme is tiered and provides rigorous training as well as assessment. Again, this ensures that responsible individuals have the skills required to execute their contract management responsibilities.

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
13th Mar 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Minister for Veterans plans to correct the record of his oral contribution of 7 January 2020, Official report, column 362.

The Minister for Veterans' Affairs is reviewing the record in light of the Afghanistan Inquiry which is currently underway. The Minister is fully aware of his obligations to Parliament and holds his responsibilities to the House in the highest regard.

John Glen
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
4th Mar 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the data breach experienced by Southern Water as a result of a cyber-attack, what assessment they have made of the adequacy of existing cyber security regulations for UK critical infrastructure.

The National Cyber Strategy 2022 set outcomes for critical national infrastructure (CNI) (in the private and public sector) to better understand & manage cyber risk and minimise the impact of cyber incidents when they occur. In addition, at CyberUK 2023, the Deputy Prime Minister announced specific and ambitious cyber resilience targets for all CNI sectors (public and private sector) to meet by 2025.

Over the past year, the Cabinet Office has been progressing foundational work to support the creation of common but flexible resilience standards across CNI and do more on the assurance of CNI, including cyber assurance preparedness, by 2030. This includes work to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of all regulation that applies to CNI, including (but not limited to) NIS regulations, and to bring more private sector businesses working in CNI within the scope of cyber resilience regulations.

The Government is also committed to ensuring cyber security in the public sector, which is why GovAssure was launched in April 2023. Under GovAssure, government organisations regularly review the effectiveness of their cyber defences against common cyber vulnerabilities and attack methods. We are currently evaluating the first year’s assessments. GovAssure will enable government organisations to accurately assess their levels of cyber resilience across their critical services, highlight priority areas for improvement and provide the Government with a strategic view of cyber capability, risk and resilience across the sector.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
5th Mar 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the efficacy of existing cyber-resilience regulations relating to the UK’s critical national infrastructure.

The National Cyber Strategy 2022 set outcomes for critical national infrastructure (CNI) (in the private and public sector) to better understand & manage cyber risk and minimise the impact of cyber incidents when they occur. In addition, at CyberUK 2023, the Deputy Prime Minister announced specific and ambitious cyber resilience targets for all CNI sectors (public and private sector) to meet by 2025.

Over the past year, the Cabinet Office has been progressing foundational work to support the creation of common but flexible resilience standards across CNI and do more on the assurance of CNI, including cyber assurance preparedness, by 2030. This includes work to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of all regulation that applies to CNI, including (but not limited to) NIS regulations, and to bring more private sector businesses working in CNI within the scope of cyber resilience regulations.

The Government is also committed to ensuring cyber security in the public sector, which is why GovAssure was launched in April 2023. Under GovAssure, government organisations regularly review the effectiveness of their cyber defences against common cyber vulnerabilities and attack methods. We are currently evaluating the first year’s assessments. GovAssure will enable government organisations to accurately assess their levels of cyber resilience across their critical services, highlight priority areas for improvement and provide the Government with a strategic view of cyber capability, risk and resilience across the sector.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
6th Mar 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many (a) part-time and (b) full-time paid positions the a:gender staff network has; and what the cost to the public purse is of that network.

The costs (covering the period 2022-23) were £82,000. A decision has been made since then that no further funding will be provided.

Some of the information requested is being withheld because disclosure of that information would contravene one of the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the UK General Data Protection Regulation and section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018.

Specifically, we consider that disclosure of the information would contravene principle A under article 5(1)(a) of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which requires that personal data should be processed lawfully, fairly, and transparently.

We have found that on balance the legitimate interest and necessity in disclosure are overridden by the reasonable expectations of privacy of the individual[s] concerned.

In this case, the numbers concerned are 5 individuals or fewer. We cannot provide details in such cases as the individuals concerned could be identifiable. This is standard statistical reporting.

John Glen
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
7th Mar 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent discussions the Prime Minister has had with Cabinet colleagues on the potential operational readiness of the Government to hold a general election in May.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 26 February, Official Report, PQ 14293.

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
7th Mar 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what (a) process and (b) criteria the Prime Minister will use to determine the timing of a general election.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 26 February, Official Report, PQ 14293.

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
8th Mar 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 23 February 2024 to Question 13226 on Veterans: Employment Scheme, how many and what proportion of ethnic minority veterans have used the Career Development Fund in the last 12 months.

Veterans’ employment is at an all-time high, with 89% of those leaving service finding employment within six months.

This Government's £700,000 Veterans’ Career Development Fund aims to build on that, increasing the provision and enhancing access to qualifications, training and skills development for veterans and their families across the UK.

The grant seeks to support veterans of all backgrounds, and encourages applications in particular from groups and organisations which seek to engage with and support minority groups and individuals within the overall veteran population, including those of ethnic minority backgrounds.

The fund closed for applications from organisations in January this year, with successful applicants due to be notified later this month. Activity and delivery of the projects will then commence after that point

Johnny Mercer
Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
12th Mar 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on how many occasions Ministers have settled defamation or libel proceedings in their official capacity as a Minister of the Crown since 2001; and whether there has been a cost to the public purse of settlements in such cases.

I refer the Hon. Member to my answer on 12th March 2024 (UIN 17709).

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
1st Mar 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to introduce legislation to ensure “zero checks and zero customs paperwork” for goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland via the UK Internal Market Scheme; and if so, when.

As set out in the Safeguarding the Union Command Paper, the internal market system will ensure the smooth flow of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland for internal UK trade. In line with the Government’s commitments since 2021, these arrangements establish individual schemes that can be used only by UK internal market traders, to preserve those benefits for UK traders and to maintain the smooth flow of that trade. Checks on internal UK movements under the schemes will be removed except those conducted by UK authorities and required as part of a risk-based or intelligence-led approach to tackle criminality, abuse of the schemes, smuggling and disease risks. We will set out further information on the transition to these new arrangements shortly.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
1st Mar 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government whether checks are still made on goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland via the UK Internal Market Scheme.

As set out in the Safeguarding the Union Command Paper, the internal market system will ensure the smooth flow of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland for internal UK trade. In line with the Government’s commitments since 2021, these arrangements establish individual schemes that can be used only by UK internal market traders, to preserve those benefits for UK traders and to maintain the smooth flow of that trade. Checks on internal UK movements under the schemes will be removed except those conducted by UK authorities and required as part of a risk-based or intelligence-led approach to tackle criminality, abuse of the schemes, smuggling and disease risks. We will set out further information on the transition to these new arrangements shortly.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
11th Mar 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many and what proportion of civil service recruitment campaigns failed to fill the post advertised in each financial year from 2019/20.

The Government Recruitment Service collaborates with departments, functions and professions to develop and deliver high quality, customer-focused recruitment that identifies and attracts the best people for roles whilst offering a wide range of services. It offers core low-cost solutions to meet routine recruitment needs and handles more complex or specialist campaigns by tailoring its approach to attract and recruit the highest quality candidates.

The following table presents civil service recruitment campaigns with successful and unsuccessful vacancy outcomes for campaigns managed by the Government Recruitment Service.

Year

Vacancy Outcome Successful

Vacancy Outcome Unsuccessful

Total number of vacancies

2020

10080

5146

15226

2021

15871

9511

25382

2022

16047

9851

25898

2023

13909

9576

23485

Total

55907

34084

89991

The Government Recruitment Service does not hold any data on why candidates are not successful. However, there could be a range of reasons for non-appointment. All candidates will have been sifted or interviewed out of the recruiting process.

John Glen
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
11th Mar 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, to which domestic destinations Ministers in his Department have attended overnight visits in each of the last three financial years.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to my response to UIN 17515 on 12th March 2024.

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
11th Mar 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many government services have onboarded to One Login.

The GOV.UK One Login system is fully operational, providing a simple and secure way for people to access government services online. Users can create an account, login and prove (and then reuse) their identity - through either a web-based journey, smartphone app or in-person route - to access an initial set of 30 government services. This includes important services such as ‘Request a Disclosure and Barring Service Basic Check’, ‘Apply for an HM Armed Forces Veteran Card’ and ‘Sign Your Mortgage Deed’.

We are on track to onboard additional services - including in HMRC, DWP and DVLA - over the next year, bringing the total number to at least 145.

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
11th Mar 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many full-time equivalent staff were employed in the Government Digital and Data profession on 11 March (a) 2022, (b) 2023 and (c) 2024.

The Digital and Data profession issues a Workforce Planning data Commission twice a year in April and October. Below are the number of full-time Civil Servant professionals in filled positions for the years 2022 and 2023:

a) 2022, April commission: 16,662

b) 2023, April commission: 20,163

c) 2023, October commission: 21,366

The 2024 April commission is being issued this month (March 2024), workforce data is therefore not yet available. We are firmly on track to reach its target 6% of the overall civil service workforce by 2025.

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
11th Mar 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many civil servants in ministerial departments worked in the Government Communication Service profession in each financial year from 2010/11.

The information requested is not held centrally from 2010 to date.

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
29th Feb 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government whether, given UK internal market requirements, the EU still has any control of trade from Great Britain to Northern Ireland through Regulations 2023/1231 and 2023/1128.

The EU does not have control over the movement of goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. The operation of the UK internal market system is the responsibility of UK competent authorities.

The Government has guaranteed the smooth flow of these and other goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland through the new UK internal market system, which complements the Windsor Framework and its associated legislation. Taken together, these will protect historic trade flows and reduce burdens and formalities on businesses seeking to trade across the UK, backed by a UK internal market guarantee and independent scrutiny.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
29th Feb 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Irish sea border has been removed.

By any sensible comparison with any other trade border in the world, there is no sense of a trade border for goods moving within the UK internal market. The smooth flow of goods within the UK internal market is secured and strengthened through our commitments in the Safeguarding the Union Command Paper.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
29th Feb 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 5 January (HL1358), whether they plan to publish (1) the questions posed in the business readiness survey, and (2) a detailed summary of the responses from businesses, for the implementation of the Border Target Operating Model.

In the Draft Border Target Operating Model (BTOM), published in April 2023 the UK Government asked industry to provide information on their readiness for the proposed regime. The questions included:

  1. What challenges exist for the private sector in meeting the proposed timeline for introducing the new model and how can specific business models for importing be further supported to prepare?

  2. What further detail is needed in order for businesses to prepare for and implement the new Border Target Operating Model?

A summary of responses from stakeholders can be found in the Final BTOM, published in August 2023. In response to stakeholder feedback on the Draft BTOM, we made a change to the timeline for the introduction of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) controls to give more businesses time to prepare. The Government is delivering a programme of engagement with stakeholders across all sectors in all parts of the country and with key European Union trading partners to ensure readiness. There are no current plans for further publications on industry readiness as such, although discussions with stakeholders continue.

However, we expect to publish the Government Response to the charging arrangements at government-run border control posts consultation in the coming weeks. Arrangements for physical checks for goods from the island of Ireland will be announced in due course - the UK Government is continuing to work with the Scottish and Welsh Government as well as the newly restored Northern Ireland Executive on this issue. We aim shortly to publish revised rules for importing animal products, plants and plant products into Great Britain for personal use, including those sent as post and parcels. All other supplementary guidance outlined in Annex H of the Final BTOM that was due to be published by end February 2024 has been released, and technical information surrounding the BTOM was issued in mid-February here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/border-target-operating-model-information-leaflets-for-businesses.

With regards to live testing, traders, carriers and hauliers have been selected to take part in operational testing in conjunction with Defra and local Port Health Authorities and include a mix of large and smaller traders where possible. The tests vary according to route route, mode and commodity. Onboarding of traders into the testing regime, including some smaller businesses, is ongoing at this time with operational testing continuing in March and April.

Estimates for the Common User Charge were included in the modelling of the inflationary impact of the Border Target Operating Model. The government used a wide array of data to input into the peer-reviewed model, including commercially sensitive data sources. To publish only a partial picture would not be in keeping with statistical propriety.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
29th Feb 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 5 January (HL1358), why they do not plan to publish the readiness assessment for the implementation of the Border Target Operating Model.

In the Draft Border Target Operating Model (BTOM), published in April 2023 the UK Government asked industry to provide information on their readiness for the proposed regime. The questions included:

  1. What challenges exist for the private sector in meeting the proposed timeline for introducing the new model and how can specific business models for importing be further supported to prepare?

  2. What further detail is needed in order for businesses to prepare for and implement the new Border Target Operating Model?

A summary of responses from stakeholders can be found in the Final BTOM, published in August 2023. In response to stakeholder feedback on the Draft BTOM, we made a change to the timeline for the introduction of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) controls to give more businesses time to prepare. The Government is delivering a programme of engagement with stakeholders across all sectors in all parts of the country and with key European Union trading partners to ensure readiness. There are no current plans for further publications on industry readiness as such, although discussions with stakeholders continue.

However, we expect to publish the Government Response to the charging arrangements at government-run border control posts consultation in the coming weeks. Arrangements for physical checks for goods from the island of Ireland will be announced in due course - the UK Government is continuing to work with the Scottish and Welsh Government as well as the newly restored Northern Ireland Executive on this issue. We aim shortly to publish revised rules for importing animal products, plants and plant products into Great Britain for personal use, including those sent as post and parcels. All other supplementary guidance outlined in Annex H of the Final BTOM that was due to be published by end February 2024 has been released, and technical information surrounding the BTOM was issued in mid-February here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/border-target-operating-model-information-leaflets-for-businesses.

With regards to live testing, traders, carriers and hauliers have been selected to take part in operational testing in conjunction with Defra and local Port Health Authorities and include a mix of large and smaller traders where possible. The tests vary according to route route, mode and commodity. Onboarding of traders into the testing regime, including some smaller businesses, is ongoing at this time with operational testing continuing in March and April.

Estimates for the Common User Charge were included in the modelling of the inflationary impact of the Border Target Operating Model. The government used a wide array of data to input into the peer-reviewed model, including commercially sensitive data sources. To publish only a partial picture would not be in keeping with statistical propriety.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
29th Feb 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 5 January (HL1357), what information and guidance that the final Border Target Operating Model committed to publish remains outstanding.

In the Draft Border Target Operating Model (BTOM), published in April 2023 the UK Government asked industry to provide information on their readiness for the proposed regime. The questions included:

  1. What challenges exist for the private sector in meeting the proposed timeline for introducing the new model and how can specific business models for importing be further supported to prepare?

  2. What further detail is needed in order for businesses to prepare for and implement the new Border Target Operating Model?

A summary of responses from stakeholders can be found in the Final BTOM, published in August 2023. In response to stakeholder feedback on the Draft BTOM, we made a change to the timeline for the introduction of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) controls to give more businesses time to prepare. The Government is delivering a programme of engagement with stakeholders across all sectors in all parts of the country and with key European Union trading partners to ensure readiness. There are no current plans for further publications on industry readiness as such, although discussions with stakeholders continue.

However, we expect to publish the Government Response to the charging arrangements at government-run border control posts consultation in the coming weeks. Arrangements for physical checks for goods from the island of Ireland will be announced in due course - the UK Government is continuing to work with the Scottish and Welsh Government as well as the newly restored Northern Ireland Executive on this issue. We aim shortly to publish revised rules for importing animal products, plants and plant products into Great Britain for personal use, including those sent as post and parcels. All other supplementary guidance outlined in Annex H of the Final BTOM that was due to be published by end February 2024 has been released, and technical information surrounding the BTOM was issued in mid-February here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/border-target-operating-model-information-leaflets-for-businesses.

With regards to live testing, traders, carriers and hauliers have been selected to take part in operational testing in conjunction with Defra and local Port Health Authorities and include a mix of large and smaller traders where possible. The tests vary according to route route, mode and commodity. Onboarding of traders into the testing regime, including some smaller businesses, is ongoing at this time with operational testing continuing in March and April.

Estimates for the Common User Charge were included in the modelling of the inflationary impact of the Border Target Operating Model. The government used a wide array of data to input into the peer-reviewed model, including commercially sensitive data sources. To publish only a partial picture would not be in keeping with statistical propriety.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
29th Feb 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 5 January (HL1361), which businesses have been selected to take part in live testing; how those businesses were selected; and whether the businesses include a mix of large and small operators.

In the Draft Border Target Operating Model (BTOM), published in April 2023 the UK Government asked industry to provide information on their readiness for the proposed regime. The questions included:

  1. What challenges exist for the private sector in meeting the proposed timeline for introducing the new model and how can specific business models for importing be further supported to prepare?

  2. What further detail is needed in order for businesses to prepare for and implement the new Border Target Operating Model?

A summary of responses from stakeholders can be found in the Final BTOM, published in August 2023. In response to stakeholder feedback on the Draft BTOM, we made a change to the timeline for the introduction of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) controls to give more businesses time to prepare. The Government is delivering a programme of engagement with stakeholders across all sectors in all parts of the country and with key European Union trading partners to ensure readiness. There are no current plans for further publications on industry readiness as such, although discussions with stakeholders continue.

However, we expect to publish the Government Response to the charging arrangements at government-run border control posts consultation in the coming weeks. Arrangements for physical checks for goods from the island of Ireland will be announced in due course - the UK Government is continuing to work with the Scottish and Welsh Government as well as the newly restored Northern Ireland Executive on this issue. We aim shortly to publish revised rules for importing animal products, plants and plant products into Great Britain for personal use, including those sent as post and parcels. All other supplementary guidance outlined in Annex H of the Final BTOM that was due to be published by end February 2024 has been released, and technical information surrounding the BTOM was issued in mid-February here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/border-target-operating-model-information-leaflets-for-businesses.

With regards to live testing, traders, carriers and hauliers have been selected to take part in operational testing in conjunction with Defra and local Port Health Authorities and include a mix of large and smaller traders where possible. The tests vary according to route route, mode and commodity. Onboarding of traders into the testing regime, including some smaller businesses, is ongoing at this time with operational testing continuing in March and April.

Estimates for the Common User Charge were included in the modelling of the inflationary impact of the Border Target Operating Model. The government used a wide array of data to input into the peer-reviewed model, including commercially sensitive data sources. To publish only a partial picture would not be in keeping with statistical propriety.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
29th Feb 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 27 December 2023 (HL1077), what level of Common User Charge was included in the modelling of the inflationary impact of the Border Target Operating Model.

In the Draft Border Target Operating Model (BTOM), published in April 2023 the UK Government asked industry to provide information on their readiness for the proposed regime. The questions included:

  1. What challenges exist for the private sector in meeting the proposed timeline for introducing the new model and how can specific business models for importing be further supported to prepare?

  2. What further detail is needed in order for businesses to prepare for and implement the new Border Target Operating Model?

A summary of responses from stakeholders can be found in the Final BTOM, published in August 2023. In response to stakeholder feedback on the Draft BTOM, we made a change to the timeline for the introduction of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) controls to give more businesses time to prepare. The Government is delivering a programme of engagement with stakeholders across all sectors in all parts of the country and with key European Union trading partners to ensure readiness. There are no current plans for further publications on industry readiness as such, although discussions with stakeholders continue.

However, we expect to publish the Government Response to the charging arrangements at government-run border control posts consultation in the coming weeks. Arrangements for physical checks for goods from the island of Ireland will be announced in due course - the UK Government is continuing to work with the Scottish and Welsh Government as well as the newly restored Northern Ireland Executive on this issue. We aim shortly to publish revised rules for importing animal products, plants and plant products into Great Britain for personal use, including those sent as post and parcels. All other supplementary guidance outlined in Annex H of the Final BTOM that was due to be published by end February 2024 has been released, and technical information surrounding the BTOM was issued in mid-February here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/border-target-operating-model-information-leaflets-for-businesses.

With regards to live testing, traders, carriers and hauliers have been selected to take part in operational testing in conjunction with Defra and local Port Health Authorities and include a mix of large and smaller traders where possible. The tests vary according to route route, mode and commodity. Onboarding of traders into the testing regime, including some smaller businesses, is ongoing at this time with operational testing continuing in March and April.

Estimates for the Common User Charge were included in the modelling of the inflationary impact of the Border Target Operating Model. The government used a wide array of data to input into the peer-reviewed model, including commercially sensitive data sources. To publish only a partial picture would not be in keeping with statistical propriety.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
29th Feb 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what projects have been undertaken by the 10 Downing Street Data Science Team since its establishment, and in each case what were the objectives and outcomes, and what is the current status, of these projects.

The No10 Data Science Team has a remit to improve the way in which key decisions are informed by data, analysis, and evidence using cutting-edge data science techniques. This enables the Government to use the best available evidence, throughout the policy and decision-making process, to drive long-term systems change and enable staff to collectively solve the most pressing policy challenges. They also use data to track delivery of government priority programs, working closely with Delivery Unit. The Government would not normally comment on the details of policy development and formation nor the process by which collective decisions are made across government.

The team also runs a transformation program including: (1) project rAPId, a free, open source, lightweight data sharing system; (2) the No10 Innovation Fellowships, bringing industry expertise in AI into central government on year-long secondments to improve public services; (3) Evidence House, a program to upskill civil servants in data science, AI and software engineering; and crowdsource technical solutions to complex problems; and (4) creating and managing the new Incubator for Artificial Intelligence, a 30-strong team of AI experts who are working on rapid delivery of AI projects in line with the Prime Minister’s priorities.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
4th Mar 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Going Forward into Employment initiative for veterans.

Regular updates on a range of veteran specific initiatives, including Going Forward into Employment, are published as part of the Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan 6 monthly report and in the Armed Forces Covenant and Veterans Annual Report.

The latest updates report that over 200 veterans have been employed in the Civil Service through Going Forward into Employment, and over 1,000 Civil Service jobs secured through the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

This is matched by the all-time high of veterans’ employment in the UK, with 89% employed within six months of leaving service when engaging with available support.

Johnny Mercer
Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
8th Mar 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2024 to Question 16659 on Blood: Contamination, how much members of the expert group who are not legal experts will be paid.

As set out in my response to Question 16659, members of the expert group will receive remuneration for their work. However, the Government will not be releasing the details of how much individual members of the expert group are being paid.

John Glen
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
7th Mar 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many domestic overnight visits were undertaken by Ministers in his Department in each of the last three financial years; and what the cost of those visits was.

The Government publishes on GOV.UK details of the cost of overseas Ministerial travel, including costs of travel, and on other costs (visas, accommodation, meals).

But as has been the case under successive administrations, the Government does not publish granular detail on Ministers’ travel at home or abroad.

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
6th Mar 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish his diary for 16 November 2023.

I refer the Hon. Member to my response to UIN 16454 on 6th March 2024.

John Glen
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
4th Mar 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of naming the permanent home of the Darlington Economic Campus, William McMullen House.

With reference to your enquiry regarding the naming of the Darlington Economic Campus 'William McMullen House' I am happy to advise we will consider this suggestion, alongside other suggestions, when finalising the name of building.

Naming of all new Government Hubs and other Government buildings must go through a process whereby all options must undergo sufficient due diligence. Selection of a preferred option will need to be agreed to by the Government Property Agency (GPA), occupying departments, local leaders and authorities including the Post Office.

Naming of a new Government Hub will happen nearer to the point when the building is being delivered. In the case of Darlington Economic Campus this will be in 2025/26.

Under the current programme, and subject to planning consent being granted mid-year and approval of the Full Business Case in the last quarter of this year, works will commence in the first quarter of 2025.

Details of Ministers’ and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK. Published declarations include the purpose of the meeting and the names of any additional external organisations or individuals in attendance.

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
4th Mar 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on how many occasions Ministers from all departments have (a) held meetings at and (b) worked from the Darlington Economic Campus since August 2021.

With reference to your enquiry regarding the naming of the Darlington Economic Campus 'William McMullen House' I am happy to advise we will consider this suggestion, alongside other suggestions, when finalising the name of building.

Naming of all new Government Hubs and other Government buildings must go through a process whereby all options must undergo sufficient due diligence. Selection of a preferred option will need to be agreed to by the Government Property Agency (GPA), occupying departments, local leaders and authorities including the Post Office.

Naming of a new Government Hub will happen nearer to the point when the building is being delivered. In the case of Darlington Economic Campus this will be in 2025/26.

Under the current programme, and subject to planning consent being granted mid-year and approval of the Full Business Case in the last quarter of this year, works will commence in the first quarter of 2025.

Details of Ministers’ and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK. Published declarations include the purpose of the meeting and the names of any additional external organisations or individuals in attendance.

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
4th Mar 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he expects the works on the permanent site for the Darlington Economic Campus at Brunswick Street to commence.

With reference to your enquiry regarding the naming of the Darlington Economic Campus 'William McMullen House' I am happy to advise we will consider this suggestion, alongside other suggestions, when finalising the name of building.

Naming of all new Government Hubs and other Government buildings must go through a process whereby all options must undergo sufficient due diligence. Selection of a preferred option will need to be agreed to by the Government Property Agency (GPA), occupying departments, local leaders and authorities including the Post Office.

Naming of a new Government Hub will happen nearer to the point when the building is being delivered. In the case of Darlington Economic Campus this will be in 2025/26.

Under the current programme, and subject to planning consent being granted mid-year and approval of the Full Business Case in the last quarter of this year, works will commence in the first quarter of 2025.

Details of Ministers’ and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK. Published declarations include the purpose of the meeting and the names of any additional external organisations or individuals in attendance.

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
4th Mar 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many civil servants on full-time contracts there were in each year since 2019.

National Statistics on the number of full-time and part-time civil servants are published each quarter by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) as part of their Public Sector Employment statistical release. The latest available statistics were published in December 2023 and at Table 8 show the number of full-time civil servants as at 30 September 2023. The next ONS publication is scheduled for release on 12 March 2024 and will show the number of civil servants as at 31 December. Statistics for 2019 and all previous and upcoming releases can be found on the ONS website at https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/datasets/publicsectoremploymentreferencetable

John Glen
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
4th Mar 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether any materials used in Civil Service diversity, equity, and inclusion training make reference to the Black Lives Matter movement.

The only cross Civil Service course provided by the Cabinet Office on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is Civil Service Expectations, which does not have any reference to the Black Lives Matters movement.

John Glen
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
4th Mar 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which external (a) speakers and (b) organisations have spoken in Civil Service diversity, equity, and inclusion training since 2020.

In the Autumn Statement last year, the Chancellor set out that the Government is considering introducing a presumption against external EDI spending and increasing ministerial scrutiny of EDI spending whilst streamlining EDI training and HR processes with a view to getting value for the taxpayer.

The Civil Service offers limited diversity and inclusion specific training through the cross Civil Service learning offer. The Civil Service work with a range of external suppliers to design and deliver these courses, a full list of which is provided here. Speakers are not part of the training provided in the learning offer.

  • Civil Service Expectations - e-learning course

  • Collaborating effectively in cross-cultural teams - MindGym

  • Creating an Inclusive Culture - Berkshire Consultancy Ltd

  • Creating Inclusive Virtual Teams - Bailey & French

  • Creating Team Inclusivity - Capital Training Ltd

  • Cultivating your Cultural Intelligence - Berkshire Consultancy Ltd

  • Dealing with Everyday Racism - Berkshire Consultancy Ltd

  • Disability inclusive management - KPMG Specialist Faculty

  • Ignite inclusion - MindGym

  • Inclusive leadership - KPMG Specialist Faculty

  • Leading inclusive teams - KPMG Specialist Faculty

  • Managing Inclusion - Korn Ferry

  • Modern Leadership – skills for managing a diverse workforce - Berkshire Consultancy Ltd

  • Neurodiversity in the workplace - Berkshire Consultancy Ltd

  • Power of choice - Korn Ferry

  • Respect Training - Berkshire Consultancy Ltd

  • Sexual Harassment - Red Snapper

  • Understanding multiple perspectives - Berkshire Consultancy Ltd

  • Working with different cultures – a Managers Toolkit - Berkshire Consultancy Ltd

John Glen
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
4th Mar 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the document entitled Draft terms of reference for the Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group, what updates his Department has provided on relevant developments in its area of work to that group since 2019.

Ministers and officials have regular discussions with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities over a range of issues. More broadly, I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 1 March 2024, Official Report, PQ 16019 on tackling anti-Muslim hatred.

John Glen
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
4th Mar 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what guidance his Department issues on the use of WhatsApp.

In common with all other departments in central government, and arms lengths bodies, Cabinet Office applies the published guidance: Using Non-Corporate Communication Channels (e.g. WhatsApp, private email, SMS, etc.) for Government Business, found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/non-corporate-communication-channels-for-government-business. This guidance, which was published by Cabinet Office in March 2023, applies to all individuals in central government (ministers, special advisers, officials, contractors, non-executive board members and independent experts advising ministers).

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
27th Feb 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of the central Government administrative estate has installed smart meters.

Within the Government Property Agency managed estate of 65 sites, 100% of these are confirmed to have smart meters installed. Data for other sites would need to be provided by the utility provider or by Departments managing those sites.

The transition to a more flexible energy system plays a vital role in decarbonising the Government office portfolio. Smart meters are one simple step on this journey and that is why one of the work streams identified for investment by Government Property Agency is the adoption of programmes to install smart meters and ensure automatic meter readings across their portfolios.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
27th Feb 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government how many designated smoking and vaping areas are currently located within the central Government administrative estate.

Within the Government Property Agency managed estate there are 6 designated smoking and vaping areas. These are at the following GPA locations:

  • 10 South Colonnade

  • Whitechapel Building

  • 70 Whitehall

  • Leicester

  • Stoke on Trent

  • Mold

These are either legacy arrangements or provided by the superior landlord for all tenants.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
27th Feb 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government to provide an update on the principles or guidelines that are currently in place for the design and execution of public consultations by central Government; and whether the Government holds a cross-departmental register of all consultations across departments and their public bodies.

The UK Government has a set of consultation principles which give guidance to government departments and other public bodies on the principles they should adopt for engaging with stakeholders on developing policy and legislation.

These principles encourage policy makers to consider what they are seeking to achieve through any consultation when determining when, with whom and how to consult. The guidance directs policy teams to design consultations on a case-by-case basis to best engage the cohorts of relevance to the subject of the consultation and gather the best possible information to assist with policy development. The consultation principles were last updated in 2018 and are published on gov.uk at the link below:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/consultation-principles-guidance

A list of policy papers and consultations is also published on gov.uk at the link below:

https://www.gov.uk/search/policy-papers-and-consultations

Baroness Neville-Rolfe
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
6th Mar 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, from what budget (a) legal fees for defamation cases brought against ministers and (b) settlement in such cases will come.

In line with the established practice under multiple administrations of all political colours, Ministers are provided with legal support and representation where matters relate to their conduct and responsibilities as a Minister.

Statistics relating to costs of settling claims, costs of legal support, and the number of times the provision of legal support has been authorised or declined are not maintained by the Cabinet Office. Funding for appropriate legal costs, including any out-of-court settlements, would be met by the relevant department's budget.

As set out in Chapter 6 of the Cabinet Manual, Ministers are indemnified by the Crown for any actions taken against them for things done or decisions made in the course of their ministerial duties. The indemnity covers the cost of defending the proceedings, as well as any costs or damages awarded against the minister. Decisions about whether to provide legal support are made by the relevant department’s Accounting Officer.

This reflects an important principle that Ministers should be able to carry out their official duties, supported by official advice, in a way which they see fit, without the risk of personal liability constraining their ability to take those official actions. Of course, Ministers remain accountable to Parliament and the wider public for their actions as a Minister.

It would have a chilling effect on public life if Ministers faced the prospect of personal financial harm from those seeking to pressure the Government through vexatious or hostile litigation (or the threat thereof).

More broadly, the principle of legal support from the public purse for official duties is not confined to government. I would observe that there is insurance available to MPs provided by the House at taxpayers’ expense, designed to protect hon. Members when carrying out parliamentary and constituency duties. This includes professional indemnity insurance that covers defamation. I also note that the House of Lords Commission is due this week to discuss the provision of professional indemnity insurance to peers.

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
6th Mar 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether it is the Government's policy to pay (a) legal costs and (b) damages in relation to allegedly defamatory comments made by Ministers.

In line with the established practice under multiple administrations of all political colours, Ministers are provided with legal support and representation where matters relate to their conduct and responsibilities as a Minister.

Statistics relating to costs of settling claims, costs of legal support, and the number of times the provision of legal support has been authorised or declined are not maintained by the Cabinet Office. Funding for appropriate legal costs, including any out-of-court settlements, would be met by the relevant department's budget.

As set out in Chapter 6 of the Cabinet Manual, Ministers are indemnified by the Crown for any actions taken against them for things done or decisions made in the course of their ministerial duties. The indemnity covers the cost of defending the proceedings, as well as any costs or damages awarded against the minister. Decisions about whether to provide legal support are made by the relevant department’s Accounting Officer.

This reflects an important principle that Ministers should be able to carry out their official duties, supported by official advice, in a way which they see fit, without the risk of personal liability constraining their ability to take those official actions. Of course, Ministers remain accountable to Parliament and the wider public for their actions as a Minister.

It would have a chilling effect on public life if Ministers faced the prospect of personal financial harm from those seeking to pressure the Government through vexatious or hostile litigation (or the threat thereof).

More broadly, the principle of legal support from the public purse for official duties is not confined to government. I would observe that there is insurance available to MPs provided by the House at taxpayers’ expense, designed to protect hon. Members when carrying out parliamentary and constituency duties. This includes professional indemnity insurance that covers defamation. I also note that the House of Lords Commission is due this week to discuss the provision of professional indemnity insurance to peers.

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
7th Mar 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost to the public purse is for settling claims for (a) defamation and (b) libel by Ministers since 19 December 2019.

In line with the established practice under multiple administrations of all political colours, Ministers are provided with legal support and representation where matters relate to their conduct and responsibilities as a Minister.

Statistics relating to costs of settling claims, costs of legal support, and the number of times the provision of legal support has been authorised or declined are not maintained by the Cabinet Office. Funding for appropriate legal costs, including any out-of-court settlements, would be met by the relevant department's budget.

As set out in Chapter 6 of the Cabinet Manual, Ministers are indemnified by the Crown for any actions taken against them for things done or decisions made in the course of their ministerial duties. The indemnity covers the cost of defending the proceedings, as well as any costs or damages awarded against the minister. Decisions about whether to provide legal support are made by the relevant department’s Accounting Officer.

This reflects an important principle that Ministers should be able to carry out their official duties, supported by official advice, in a way which they see fit, without the risk of personal liability constraining their ability to take those official actions. Of course, Ministers remain accountable to Parliament and the wider public for their actions as a Minister.

It would have a chilling effect on public life if Ministers faced the prospect of personal financial harm from those seeking to pressure the Government through vexatious or hostile litigation (or the threat thereof).

More broadly, the principle of legal support from the public purse for official duties is not confined to government. I would observe that there is insurance available to MPs provided by the House at taxpayers’ expense, designed to protect hon. Members when carrying out parliamentary and constituency duties. This includes professional indemnity insurance that covers defamation. I also note that the House of Lords Commission is due this week to discuss the provision of professional indemnity insurance to peers.

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
7th Mar 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the total cost to the public purse was of legal support provided to Ministers of the Crown in relation to claims for (a) defamation and (b) libel connected with their official duties since 19 December 2019.

In line with the established practice under multiple administrations of all political colours, Ministers are provided with legal support and representation where matters relate to their conduct and responsibilities as a Minister.

Statistics relating to costs of settling claims, costs of legal support, and the number of times the provision of legal support has been authorised or declined are not maintained by the Cabinet Office. Funding for appropriate legal costs, including any out-of-court settlements, would be met by the relevant department's budget.

As set out in Chapter 6 of the Cabinet Manual, Ministers are indemnified by the Crown for any actions taken against them for things done or decisions made in the course of their ministerial duties. The indemnity covers the cost of defending the proceedings, as well as any costs or damages awarded against the minister. Decisions about whether to provide legal support are made by the relevant department’s Accounting Officer.

This reflects an important principle that Ministers should be able to carry out their official duties, supported by official advice, in a way which they see fit, without the risk of personal liability constraining their ability to take those official actions. Of course, Ministers remain accountable to Parliament and the wider public for their actions as a Minister.

It would have a chilling effect on public life if Ministers faced the prospect of personal financial harm from those seeking to pressure the Government through vexatious or hostile litigation (or the threat thereof).

More broadly, the principle of legal support from the public purse for official duties is not confined to government. I would observe that there is insurance available to MPs provided by the House at taxpayers’ expense, designed to protect hon. Members when carrying out parliamentary and constituency duties. This includes professional indemnity insurance that covers defamation. I also note that the House of Lords Commission is due this week to discuss the provision of professional indemnity insurance to peers.

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
7th Mar 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on how many individual occasions the provision of legal support has been (a) authorised and (b) declined on claims for (i) defamation and (ii) libel connected with the official duties of Ministers of the Crown since 19 December 2019.

In line with the established practice under multiple administrations of all political colours, Ministers are provided with legal support and representation where matters relate to their conduct and responsibilities as a Minister.

Statistics relating to costs of settling claims, costs of legal support, and the number of times the provision of legal support has been authorised or declined are not maintained by the Cabinet Office. Funding for appropriate legal costs, including any out-of-court settlements, would be met by the relevant department's budget.

As set out in Chapter 6 of the Cabinet Manual, Ministers are indemnified by the Crown for any actions taken against them for things done or decisions made in the course of their ministerial duties. The indemnity covers the cost of defending the proceedings, as well as any costs or damages awarded against the minister. Decisions about whether to provide legal support are made by the relevant department’s Accounting Officer.

This reflects an important principle that Ministers should be able to carry out their official duties, supported by official advice, in a way which they see fit, without the risk of personal liability constraining their ability to take those official actions. Of course, Ministers remain accountable to Parliament and the wider public for their actions as a Minister.

It would have a chilling effect on public life if Ministers faced the prospect of personal financial harm from those seeking to pressure the Government through vexatious or hostile litigation (or the threat thereof).

More broadly, the principle of legal support from the public purse for official duties is not confined to government. I would observe that there is insurance available to MPs provided by the House at taxpayers’ expense, designed to protect hon. Members when carrying out parliamentary and constituency duties. This includes professional indemnity insurance that covers defamation. I also note that the House of Lords Commission is due this week to discuss the provision of professional indemnity insurance to peers.

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)