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.
Andy Burnham
Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury
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: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.
Cabinet Office does not have Bills currently before Parliament
A Bill to Make provision about the maximum number of salaries that may be paid under the Ministerial and other Salaries Act 1975 in respect of certain Ministerial offices.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 29th April 2026 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to remove the remaining connection between hereditary peerage and membership of the House of Lords; to make provision about resignation from the House of Lords; to abolish the jurisdiction of the House of Lords in relation to claims to hereditary peerages; and for connected purposes.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 18th March 2026 and was enacted into law.
A bill to Make provision for persons of the Roman Catholic faith to be eligible to hold the office of His Majesty’s High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 3rd April 2025 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to extend the period within which vacancies among the Lords Spiritual are to be filled by bishops who are women.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 16th January 2025 and was enacted into law.
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).
I would like there to be another General Election.
I believe the current Labour Government have gone back on the promises they laid out in the lead up to the last election.
We want an immediate general election to be held. We think the majority need and want change.
Apply for the UK to join the European Union as a full member as soon as possible
Gov Responded - 19 Nov 2024 Debated on - 24 Mar 2025I believe joining the EU would boost the economy, increase global influence, improve collaboration and provide stability & freedom. I believe that Brexit hasn't brought any tangible benefit and there is no future prospect of any, that the UK has changed its mind and that this should be recognised.
Yes. The £100 million committed to the AI Biosecurity Lab forms part of the £115 million committed to strengthen the UK’s defences against risks arising from advanced AI, including the use of AI to improve biosecurity.
Recent incidents of AI models carrying out unsanctioned actions are a serious reminder of the risks AI capabilities pose. The Government recognises the scale and severity of AI risks to critical national infrastructure (CNI); our response incorporates cross-Government AI risk management, world-leading research, and over £100 million of investment in new monitoring and response bodies. The 2026 Budget committed £40 million to a National Agentic Security Unit to detect and respond to misaligned agentic activity with monitoring mechanisms.
We regularly assess the risks, including through the cross-Government AI Risk Register, which assesses the full spectrum of AI risks that could impact the UK, including within CNI sectors. The AI Security Institute (AISI) and National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) regularly share relevant research and guidance online, as well as with relevant stakeholders within Government. Due to national security concerns, I cannot provide more detailed information.
The AI Security Institute (AISI) has been allocated £360 million from 2026-27 to 2029-30. This includes the additional £120 million over 2026-27 to 2029-30 announced at Budget 2026, on top of the £240 million set out in my response of 15 October 2026 to PQ 33991. The additional funding will strengthen the UK’s frontier AI evaluation and testing capability and support the development of technical standards to ensure risks are mitigated.
The AI Security Institute (AISI) does not apply a fixed threshold. It uses the term for models where testing is most likely to change our understanding of emerging AI capabilities and risks. AISI evaluates this on a case-by-case basis and reviews its approach regularly as the technology develops. Through its trusted relationships with the world's leading AI developers, AISI continues to ensure its evaluations focus on the models that matter most.
Domestic resilience measures are an important part of the Government's approach, but a range of responses will be needed to address the risks from loss of control of advanced AI. The most capable AI systems are developed by a small number of companies, largely outside the UK, and the risks they pose cross borders.
That is why the Government works on these risks at source as well as at home. The AI Security Institute (AISI) works directly with frontier AI developers to test their most advanced systems, including for capabilities relevant to loss of control, and to strengthen the safeguards that protect against them. The UK also works with allies and international partners to build a shared scientific understanding of these risks and of the measures needed to manage them.
Domestically, the Government prepares for and monitors a wide range of national risks, including scenarios where AI could act as a catalyst or introduce novel risks, through the National Risk Register and the Chronic Risks Analysis. We keep this approach under review as the technology and the evidence develop.
By convention and at the Government’s discretion, former ministers are allowed reasonable access to the papers of the period when they were in office.
The Government takes these risks extremely seriously. It is a good thing that the companies developing the most advanced AI systems are now talking openly about the risks as well as the opportunities. The UK’s AI Security Institute is in daily conversation with industry partners on AI security and is working closely with allies and partners around the world on the risks posed by increasingly capable AI systems. We are strengthening our cyber and national security capabilities as the technology develops. Where further protections are needed, we will act.
Our approach is clear: the UK must build our own capability; independently test the most advanced systems; and strengthen the UK’s resilience as the risks evolve.
The Minister for Women and Equalities was appointed to the Domestic Affairs Committee subsequent to the initial publication of the List of Cabinet Committees. The document was updated on 23 September accordingly.
The Prime Minister's Parliamentary Office is not part of the Government. It is therefore not for the Government to comment on its staffing arrangements.
No10 North is supported as appropriate by existing communications teams.
The Place Regeneration taskforce has been established to improve people’s everyday experience of where they live, working closely with local governments to better serve their communities with locally-driven solutions. The Taskforce sits within the Office for the Prime Minister & Cabinet, and is being driven forward by the First Secretary of State, Louise Haigh. It is made up of internal civil servants and will draw on relevant expertise across central and local government, academia, and civil society.
Further to the answer of 3rd March 2026 to Question 107963, the Minister for the Cabinet Office and senior officials hold regular discussions with Capita's executive leadership regarding scheme administration and outstanding payments to existing and retired civil servants. Cabinet Office officials maintain daily operational contact with Capita to drive progress on the recovery plan, ensuring priority focus is given to processing payment arrears, bereavements, and urgent cases. While Capita reported meeting its 1st September milestone on workable stock across priority operational areas, overall performance remains unacceptable and does not constitute full service recovery.
The Hugging Face incident represents a real-world example of why research to understand the risks posed by advanced AI is so important. The Government takes these risks extremely seriously. I am working closely with Ministerial colleagues to ensure that the lessons from recent incidents inform the continued development of the UK's cyber-security framework and the AI Security Institute will continue to work with model developers and other partners to better understand AI capabilities and improve safeguards and control.
I refer the Hon. Member to the answers by my Hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, during the Oral Statement, International Update, on 12 October 2026, Official Report, Columns 23-57.
Civil Service roles in No10 North are advertised in the usual way.
All employees who are assigned temporarily to the Manchester location retain their salary.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer Baroness Twycross gave on 30 September 2026 to question UIN HL3408: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-09-10/HL3408/.
There are no plans to introduce legislation to remove the right to sit in the House of Lords from anyone serving in the justice system of Hong Kong.
The Cabinet Office published the Prime Minister’s priorities for the Honours System, which can be found here: https://honours.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/about/governance/.
It is for political party leaders to decide who will best represent their parties when making nominations to the House of Lords. Any new peerages would be announced in the usual way.
The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is the government’s official forecaster. The OBR has included assessments of the economic impacts of leaving the EU in its forecasts since 2016. In March 2020 the OBR estimated that, as a result of the deal negotiated by the then government, GDP will be 4% lower in the long run than it would have been had the UK not withdrawn from the EU. As of the Spring Forecast 2026, these assumptions remain unchanged.
The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is the government’s official forecaster. The OBR has included assessments of the economic impacts of leaving the EU in its forecasts since 2016. In March 2020 the OBR estimated that, as a result of the deal negotiated by the then government, GDP will be 4% lower in the long run than it would have been had the UK not withdrawn from the EU. As of the Spring Forecast 2026, these assumptions remain unchanged.
The UK-EU youth experience scheme will give young people the opportunity to broaden their horizons through travel, experiencing other cultures and learning languages, as well as working and studying abroad. We are working to conclude negotiations on the youth experience scheme as quickly as possible. Precise timelines are subject to negotiation.
I refer the hon. Member to UIN 28368 answered on 17 September 2026.
The OneGov Delivery Agency is yet to be formally established. Work is underway to establish the agency for 1 April 2027. Its future budget for 2027-2028 will be determined as design work progresses. Costs incurred during the current year 2026-2027 will be absorbed in existing Cabinet Office budgets.
The government issued a new Procurement Policy Note (026) in August 2026 for use by central government departments, executive agencies and non-departmental bodies from 1 January 2027. This is the procurement tool used by central government organisations to include social value questions in tenders and increases the minimum weighting for social value to 20% for contracts with a total value of £5m or more. The Office for the Prime Minister and Cabinet published further guidance on this in October 2026.
The Government firmly believes in maintaining the current position in respect of parliamentary privilege. We are confident that the Bill does not impact upon the Article 9 protections regarding proceedings in Parliament, including what members say or do in Parliament.
We recognise that Capita’s performance regarding correspondence and query resolution, including responses to Members of Parliament, has been poor. We are holding Capita firmly to account to improve turnaround times and clear backlogs. We have implemented weekly calls with directors at Capita to identify correspondence blockers and ensure correspondence is responded to in the timeliest and most accurate way possible.
To assist Members of Parliament acting on behalf of their constituents, the Cabinet Office established virtual surgeries to provide a direct route for Parliamentary offices to secure updates. As of 16 October, we have delivered over 1,300 surgeries for more than 320 Parliamentary offices.
In relation to the specific enquiries from the Hon. Member for St Albans, I understand that these were submitted directly to the scheme administrator, Capita, rather than my department. It is our understanding that Capita has very recently responded to one of the named enquiries, and are intending to respond to the other as soon as possible.
We recognise that Capita’s performance regarding correspondence and query resolution, including responses to Members of Parliament, has been poor. We are holding Capita firmly to account to improve turnaround times and clear backlogs. We have implemented weekly calls with directors at Capita to identify correspondence blockers and ensure correspondence is responded to in the timeliest and most accurate way possible.
To assist Members of Parliament acting on behalf of their constituents, the Cabinet Office established virtual surgeries to provide a direct route for Parliamentary offices to secure updates. As of 16 October, we have delivered over 1,300 surgeries for more than 320 Parliamentary offices.
In relation to the specific enquiries from the Hon. Member for St Albans, I understand that these were submitted directly to the scheme administrator, Capita, rather than my department. It is our understanding that Capita has very recently responded to one of the named enquiries, and are intending to respond to the other as soon as possible.
All core departments are expected to complete the Gov Comms annual data collection - since 2024, 100% of core departments have submitted a return each year.
The value of this work was £15,134.00 in 2025-26. The scope of the work was the strategy for a pilot behaviour change campaign, an implementation plan, and an evaluation framework based on the Government Communication Service evaluation cycle. Following the launch of the National School of Government and Public Services, we will consider how best to implement behaviour change campaigns to help build a skilled Civil Service.
The Cabinet Office does not hold summaries of the FOI requests it receives. Answering the Member’s question would therefore require the creation of new information, and would incur a disproportionate cost to the Cabinet Office.
The Participatory Methods Forum is an informal network of civil servants formed and attended by civil servants. It supports information sharing on public participation, including to share and scale learning and good practice.
We do not publish a list of other ministerial groups beyond the list of Cabinet Committees.
The government is keen to reduce all non-essential spend - including restricting branded merchandise. In April 2025, the then Chancellor of Duchy of Lancaster asked Departments to implement appropriate controls within their Departments. Information on what exemptions have been utilised is not held centrally by the Cabinet Office.
The Collective Agreement system is kept under continuous review, with changes made by the Prime Minister when necessary.
The UK Resilience Academy is a Government service delivered for and on behalf of the Cabinet Office, operating both virtually and at its residential training campus at The Hawkhills in North Yorkshire. The Academy will continue to deliver resilience and emergency management training from The Hawkhills alongside the newly established National School of Government and Public Services.
The Cabinet Office’s contract with Serco Limited for the delivery of UK Resilience Academy services runs until April 2028. The contract remains active and operates in accordance with its agreed terms; consequently, no termination has occurred, and no costs or compensation are payable.
The creation of the National School of Government and Public Administration supports the government's wider commitment to deliver £2 billion in administrative savings across the Civil Service. The National School will design and deliver training in-house, drawing on external specialists only where they genuinely add value. Proportionate use of expert external organisations has been used to help establish the School.
The National School is part of the Cabinet Office, operating within standard Civil Service rules including the requirement for political impartiality. The School has senior governance in place around its curriculum and works closely with Cabinet Office colleagues as appropriate to maintain those standards.
The initial budget for the National School of Government and Public Services for 2026-27 is £172m. This is subject to departmental transfers and is reviewed as part of regular business planning. The majority of this budget (£138m) is for the Fast Stream graduate scheme, including salary costs for those on the Fast Stream. Our current FTE is 390.86, this figure is reviewed regularly as part of internal workforce, resourcing and recruitment planning.
Budget and staff headcount for 2027-28 will be agreed through the Cabinet Office business planning process.
The Cabinet Office manages central Learning Frameworks contracts through which departments can procure specialist external learning and development services.
The EY contract was awarded in 2020 under a Crown Commercial Framework (RM6145) and is for expenditure up to a maximum of £195m, depending on demand - the spend up to end September 2026 was £161,622,467.
The KPMG contract awarded in 2020 was also awarded under the same Crown Commercial Service Framework, this was valued at up to £237m, ended in 2024, and the total spend was £235,132,270.
There was subsequently a further contract to KPMG as a direct award. This contract was up to £186m, and total spend to end September 2026 was £167,630,873. The services covered by the contract could only be provided by KPMG at that time for technical reasons, as set out in the published award notices.
A Notice was published in July 2026 that two further contract awards are intended to be made to KPMG and EY as direct awards under Procurement Act 2023 as they concern the supply of services by existing suppliers which are intended as an extension to existing services in circumstances where:
(a) a change in supplier would result in receiving services that are different from, or incompatible with, the existing services; and
(b) the difference or incompatibility would result in disproportionate technical difficulties in operation or maintenance.
In line with previous and current central learning contracts, when enacted, these latest contracts will be fully based on a ‘pay as you use’ basis without any value, volume or exclusivity guarantees.
The Hawkhills campus currently operates as a fully functioning residential training facility, providing 102 en-suite bedrooms, conference suites and classrooms to support the UK Resilience Academy under an existing Cabinet Office service contract running until April 2028.
We are currently exploring the future estate requirements of the National School at The Hawkhills and elsewhere to inform planning across these sites. Longer-term operational cost allocations will be finalised alongside the development of the National School’s operating model.
Our estates requirements are subject to formal business case approvals, planning, and standard commercial procurement processes to ensure rigorous value for money for the taxpayer. Site running costs are currently met through existing Cabinet Office baseline contract arrangements, and longer-term operational cost allocations will be finalised alongside the development of the National School’s operating model.
I will place a copy of the brand guidelines final report in the Library. Other final reports are commercially sensitive and contain personal data and information provided in confidence which is not suitable for publication.
The Cabinet Office manages two central Learning Frameworks contracts through which departments can procure specialist external learning and development services. The spend through these contracts over the last three financial years was:
| KPMG | EY |
2025/26 | £ 83,632,040 | £30,605,762 |
2024/25 | £ 79,749,108 | £34,552,122 |
2023/24 | £ 86,556,291 | £38,138,864 |
Please note that this information relates to the expenditure through the Cabinet Office-owned central contracts, it does not cover all civil service learning and development expenditure across departments.
The National School of Government and Public Services is part of the Cabinet Office. Catherine Little is the accounting officer of the Cabinet Office. The National School is accountable to the First Secretary of State.
The National School of Government and Public Services is committed to reducing reliance on large professional learning services organisations. A detailed transition plan is under development to increase internal design and delivery and reduce expenditure on external providers over time. We are starting to implement this transition, delivering more training in house - especially for core skills, Digital, Data & AI (DDI &AI) and leadership and management.
The majority of the DDI &AI learning offer is already insourced with further courses and programmes across the curriculum in development. Products currently provided by prime suppliers for core skills and leadership and management are undergoing review. This will inform decisions as to which products and courses should be insourced between now and 2028. This will remove duplication and reduce expenditure on external providers over time to provide better value for the taxpayer.
There are currently no plans to bring digital platforms currently provided by suppliers in-house.
The National School of Government and Public Services uses the royal coat of arms in common with all government organisations.
In July 2026, the Cabinet Office introduced new requirements for central government departments to confirm in their procurements if steel produced in the UK is to be used by the prime contractor or within the supply chain. This will help to identify gaps in UK production capability and domestic demand for steel to better understand our supply chains, supporting the delivery of the Steel Strategy.