Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if the Government will prepare an updated version of a cross-Whitehall Government War Book.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

Developing plans for civilian assistance to the military in a time of conflict is a key component of the Cabinet Office’s Home Defence Programme. It is an evolving and enduring programme of work which provides defence, security and resilience planning, focused on aligning military and civil effort in the event of a period of crisis and international hostilities affecting the UK. This work is informed by and reflects the recommendations from government strategies, including the Strategic Defence Review, National Security Strategy and Resilience Action Plan.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether any former Cabinet Ministers who are not former Prime Ministers retain access to the Government Car Service.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The Government Car Service (GCS) does not provide services to any former Cabinet Ministers.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 18 December 2025 (HL12743), whether guidance or advice on the use of email has been provided to cross-government special advisers other than non-corporate communications guidance in the past six months; and if so, whether that advice included guidance on (1) placing, or not placing, specific content on government email accounts, and (2) the application of the Freedom of Information Act to corporate and non-corporation communications.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer of 18 December 2025, Official Report, PQ HL12743:

$08122025|4|W|22122025|Lord Jackson of Peterborough||To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Answer by the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 25 November (HC91373), whether guidance has been given informally to special advisers through cross-government special adviser meetings about (1) including, or (2) excluding, information on email or other corporate communications. HL12743

Answer: There is guidance in place when it comes to the use of non-corporate communications channels, available on gov.uk.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Prime Minister plans to recommend to the Sovereign that Lord Mandelson be removed from the Roll of the Peerage.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Lord Mandelson is currently on a leave of absence from the House of Lords.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason the Cabinet committee on Science and Technology has been replaced with a committee on Digital and Technology; and how matters related to science will be considered.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The membership and terms of reference of Cabinet committees is decided by the Prime Minister, as set out on gov.uk and the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology is a member of the Digital and Technology Committee. Matters related to science may be considered by a range of committees as relevant to their terms of reference.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 16 December 2025 (HL12632), what is the public interest rationale for not disclosing information that is not routinely published to Parliament about public spending on the Downing Street flats.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer of 16 December 2025, Official Report, PQ HL12632.

PQ HL12632 Lord Jackson of Peterborough: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by the Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office on 4 November (HC85501) and Lord True on 23 April 2021 (HL14191), and with regard to paragraph 1.6(d) of the Ministerial Code, what is the public interest argument for not releasing details to Parliament of public spending on the Downing Street flats.

Cabinet Office response: As was the case under successive administrations, an itemised list is not routinely published. Total expenditure from the Prime Minister’s allowance on their official residence is disclosed in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how much the Cabinet Office has spent at Berry Bros. & Rudd since 4 July 2024 through Government Procurement Card spending transactions under £500 that are not listed on gov.uk.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer of 25 November 2025, Official Report, PQ HC91376.

PQ 91376 Mike Wood: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much his Department has spent via Berry Bros Ltd since 4 July 2024.

Cabinet Office response, on 25 Nov: All relevant spending is available in the Cabinet Office’s government procurement card transparency return for March 2025 which can be found on gov.uk

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many consultations they have launched since July 2024.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

All government consultations are published on GOV.UK. Individual government departments are responsible for the consultations they lead on.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what arm's-length bodies have been created since July 2024.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

This Government was elected on a mandate of change. In order to deliver the promises we made in our manifesto, the following arms length bodies have been legislated for, launched or announced:

• Great British Energy (DESNZ)

• National Wealth Fund (HM Treasury)

• Skills England (DWP)

• Independent Football Regulator (DCMS)

• Ethics and Integrity Commission (CO)

• Single Construction Regulator (MHCLG)

• Local Audit Office (MHCLG)

• Government Commercial Agency (CO)

• Great British Railways (DfT)

• Fair Work Agency (DBT)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many civil servants employed by their Department work in roles primarily focused on (a) transgender policy, (b) diversity, (c) equity and (d) inclusion; and at what annual salary cost.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

The Cabinet Office has less than 5 civil servants who work in roles primarily focused on those areas internally in the department. We cannot provide annual salary cost details in such cases as that disclosure of the information would contravene principle A under article 5(1)(a) of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the resilience of critical national infrastructure that relies on software or data platforms supplied by Palantir.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The government works closely with critical national infrastructure operators, alongside our national technical authorities and industry partners, to ensure preparedness for the diverse range of threats and risks the UK faces.

The government does not generally comment on national security matters, including the resilience of individual suppliers into CNI.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 16 January 2026 to Question 103826 on BSL Assurance Suppliers, which Deaf-led agencies and language service providers are available to engage through Crown Commercial Service's digital purchasing frameworks.

Answered by Chris Ward - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Deaf-led BSL suppliers play an important role in supporting Deaf communities right across the country.

Customers can access BSL services through agreements RM1557.14 G-Cloud 14 and RM6302 Language Services.

CCS has approved funding to support an ‘AI for BSL’ project, led by the Royal National Institute of the Deaf (RNID) partnership with ScienceWise. The initiative ensures that Deaf communities can directly influence the development of future tools to guarantee their safe and effective application.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to provide households with information on emergency preparedness in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

Advice for the general public on how to prepare for emergencies is published at GOV.UK/Prepare. The website provides simple and effective steps that individuals, households and communities can take to be more prepared for a range of emergencies.

Specific risk and preparedness advice aimed at Surrey residents can be found on the ‘Surrey Prepared’ pages of Surrey County Council’s website.

The government continues to work with our local and national partners, including organisations from the voluntary, community and faith sectors, to highlight the importance of preparing for emergencies.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Environment Agency's job vacancy, Strategy and Government Relations Advisor, reference 32597, closing date 4 January 2026, what is his policy on public bodies hiring advisors to engage with the Government.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

The Environment Agency is a Non-Departmental Public Body, and does not form part of HM Civil Service. Non-Departmental Public Bodies are expected to engage with a range of stakeholders, including relevant Government departments, Parliamentarians across both Houses, Parliamentary Select Committees, and other key stakeholders pertinent to their work.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the report entitled Civil Service sickness absence, 2025 published on 16 December 2025, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of Civil Service (a) long-term and (b) short-term sickness rates.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

Civil Service sickness absence data, published on 16 December 2025, indicates a rise in both long-term and short-term sickness absence across the Civil Service, both since the previous year and over the past decade.

(Source: Civil Service sickness absence data published on 16 December 2025)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, Pursuant to the answer of 9 December 2025, to Question 92614, on Deputy Prime Minister: Admiralty House, if he will publish the Government Property Agency letter of June 2025.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

Communications between officials and third parties are not published as their disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs. The release of individual names would also be a breach of data protection under the General Data Protection Regulations.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of delays in payment of the Civil Service pension on people in receipt of that pension.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

In November 2023, the Cabinet Office awarded the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme to Capita. This was under the previous government. The Scheme transferred to Capita on 1 December 2025. We are aware that Capita’s current performance is having a detrimental impact on some members.

We are working urgently with Capita to resolve these issues, and to ensure that civil servants, both former and serving, receive the quality of service and support they deserve.

We have established a cross-departmental team to work with Capita to develop and implement a recovery plan. Alongside this, Capita is increasing staffing in key areas, to increase processing times in relation to new retirements and support for members, particularly those impacted by delays.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to help tackle delays in payment of the Civil Service pension.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

In November 2023, the Cabinet Office awarded the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme to Capita. This was under the previous government. The Scheme transferred to Capita on 1 December 2025. We are aware that Capita’s current performance is having a detrimental impact on some members.

We are working urgently with Capita to resolve these issues, and to ensure that civil servants, both former and serving, receive the quality of service and support they deserve.

We have established a cross-departmental team to work with Capita to develop and implement a recovery plan. Alongside this, Capita is increasing staffing in key areas, to increase processing times in relation to new retirements and support for members, particularly those impacted by delays.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the administration of the Civil Service Pension Scheme; and what steps his Department is taking to help tackle reported delays, unanswered correspondence, and difficulties accessing civil service pension records.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

In November 2023, the Cabinet Office awarded the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme to Capita. This was under the previous government. The Scheme transferred to Capita on 1 December 2025. We are aware that Capita’s current performance is having a detrimental impact on some members.

We are working urgently with Capita to resolve these issues, and to ensure that civil servants, both former and serving, receive the quality of service and support they deserve.

We have established a cross-departmental team to work with Capita to develop and implement a recovery plan. Alongside this, Capita is increasing staffing in key areas, to increase processing times in relation to new retirements and support for members, particularly those impacted by delays.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what guidance the Cabinet Office have issued to departments since the start of December 2025 about the approach to answering Written Questions about direct ministerial appointments; whether the Cabinet Office has made departments aware of expectation of transparency on direct ministerial appointments in the Guidance on Making Direct Ministerial Appointments, published October 2025; and what assessment they have made of compliance with that guidance of (1) the original, and (2) the corrected, Written Answer by the Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office on 7 January (HC98100).

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Cabinet Office wrote to departments when the Guidance on Making Direct Ministerial Appointments was published, highlighting the contents of the guidance. As the guidance sets out, the responsibility for the publication of information about direct ministerial appointments rests with individual departments.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 3 June 2025 to Question 54279 on Cabinet Office: Repairs and Maintenance, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the refurbishment of the No. 9 media room.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

A one-off refresh of the facility was undertaken in December 2024. Work was carried out to the appropriate standard.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the ethnic pay gap reporting framework will require employers to record and report pay gap data for Jewish and Sikh employees as distinct ethnic groups.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Our consultation on ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting closed in June 2025. The consultation sought views on the proposed approach, including whether ethnicity data should be collected following the Government Statistical Service (GSS) Ethnicity Harmonised Standard. Good progress has been made in analysing the responses and we will publish the Government response to the consultation in due course.

The ONS current harmonised standard does not include specific “Sikh” and “Jewish” categories for a person’s ethnic group. The Office for National Statistics (ONS), which is independent of government, is currently running a public consultation which seeks to review the harmonised standard to ensure it meets the needs of both data users and respondents.

We will monitor the progress of this review during policy development.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2025 on Question 95787 on the Prime Minister, what is the estimated total departmental spend by his department to supporting the Minister for the Union in their role since the office was established.

Answered by Chris Ward - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

As set out in our response from 4th December 2025, budgets are allocated to departments, rather than specific ministerial roles. Departmental expenditure can be reviewed in the Cabinet Office’s published Annual Report and Accounts.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if the Department will make an estimate of the current UK population based on food consumption data.

Answered by Josh Simons - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

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

A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question’s of 22nd January is attached.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if the Department will make an estimate of the current UK population based on waste disposal.

Answered by Josh Simons - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

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

A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question’s of 22nd January is attached.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if the Department will make an estimate of the current UK population based on water usage data.

Answered by Josh Simons - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

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

A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question’s of 22nd January is attached.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of Capita’s performance in administering the Civil Service Pension Scheme; and what steps she is taking to improve service levels.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

In November 2023, the Cabinet Office awarded the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme to Capita. This was under the previous government. The Scheme transferred to Capita on 1 December 2025. We are aware that Capita’s current performance is having a detrimental impact on some members.

We are working urgently with Capita to resolve these issues, and to ensure that civil servants, both former and serving, receive the quality of service and support they deserve.

We have established a cross-departmental team to work with Capita to develop and implement a recovery plan. Alongside this, Capita is increasing staffing in key areas, to increase processing times in relation to new retirements and support for members, particularly those impacted by delays.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Capita's performance on the delivery of the Civil Service Pension Scheme.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

In November 2023, the Cabinet Office awarded the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme to Capita. This was under the previous government. The Scheme transferred to Capita on 1 December 2025. We are aware that Capita’s current performance is having a detrimental impact on some members.

We are working urgently with Capita to resolve these issues, and to ensure that civil servants, both former and serving, receive the quality of service and support they deserve.

We have established a cross-departmental team to work with Capita to develop and implement a recovery plan. Alongside this, Capita is increasing staffing in key areas, to increase processing times in relation to new retirements and support for members, particularly those impacted by delays.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the head of the Office for Statistics Regulation plans to respond to the letter from the Rt hon. Member for Braintree of 8 January 2026 on business rates.

Answered by Josh Simons - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

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

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

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2025 to Question 104268 on Blue Badge Scheme: EU Countries, if he will hold discussions with his EU counterparts at the next UK–EU summit on EU recognition of the UK-issued Blue Badges for disabled drivers.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The majority of EU Member States already recognise Blue Badges. In 2025, the UK agreed further mutual recognition with France and agreed in the 2025 strategic bilateral framework with Spain to work to sign an arrangement to ensure mutual recognition of parking permits and Blue Badges for Disabled people. The Department for Transport will continue to engage bilaterally with Member States where they don't recognise Blue Badges.

Further information on Blue Badge recognition can be found here: Using a Blue Badge in Europe - GOV.UK.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2026 to Question 104802 on Specialised Committee on Citizens’ Rights, whether his Department retained a copy of that presentation.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The Cabinet Office has retained a record of the contributions of the3million and British in Europe made at the Specialised Committee on 18 December. The3million and British in Europe can be contacted directly to discuss their assessment of citizens’ rights implementation. Information on matters discussed at the Specialised Committee on Citizens’ Rights is available here: Citizens’ Rights Specialised Committee meeting, 18 December 2025: joint statement - GOV.UK. As is stipulated by Rule 13 of Annex VIII of the Withdrawal Agreement, meetings of the Specialised Committee are confidential.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 16 December 20254 to Question 98794 on Mission Boards, which Secretary of State leads each Mission Board.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Missions Boards are the responsibility of each of the lead Secretaries of State:

Kickstarting Economic Growth - Chancellor of the Exchequer

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

Safer Streets - Secretary of State for the Home Department

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

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

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what is the status of the negotiations with the European Union on the Youth Experience Scheme, and whether the UK is discussing making financial contributions to the EU.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

We have agreed that we will work towards the establishment of a balanced youth experience scheme with the EU. We are committed to implementing the outcomes of the May 2025 Summit in a timely manner and so are working towards concluding negotiations by the time of the next EU-UK summit.

We have been clear that the scheme should be in line with the UK’s existing schemes, such as Australia and New Zealand, but the exact parameters are subject to ongoing negotiation. This will not include financial contributions to the European Union - that is not how youth mobility schemes operate.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2026, to Question 104160, on Publications: Gender, how many published have been assessed and included in the inclusion list.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The SAFE inclusion list currently comprises 607 sites. Following the most recent review, 55 of these sites were categorised as posing a medium risk, and 8 were assessed as high risk.

Although these sites are excluded from the active inclusion list because of the potential risks to the government. It is important to note that this may not completely prohibit use for government communications. A publisher may still be utilised for relevant campaigns, provided appropriate campaign-specific guardrails are implemented to mitigate potential risks.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 12 January to Question 103976 on Boris Johnson and Peter Thiel, what searches he conducted to determine whether there is any (a) physical and (b) other form of record of a meeting between the then Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Boris Johnson, and Mr Peter Thiel on 28 August 2019; which repositories and systems he searched (including but not limited to Private Office diaries, visitor logs, security access records, phone logs, ministerial red boxes, briefing packs, email archives, and officials’ notebooks); and which directorates or teams he consulted; what search terms and date ranges he used.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

All of the records of former Prime Ministers are held by the Cabinet Office Public Records and Archives unit. The unit searched both physical and digital records. The physical record of the meeting is brief, simply noting the timing of the meeting, and that it was a private meeting. No other details have been found.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 12 January 2026 to Question 103976 on Boris Johnson and Peter Thiel, if he will publish the physical record.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

All of the records of former Prime Ministers are held by the Cabinet Office Public Records and Archives unit. The unit searched both physical and digital records. The physical record of the meeting is brief, simply noting the timing of the meeting, and that it was a private meeting. No other details have been found.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has negotiated a signed data sharing agreement with the Labour Party in relation to the operation of the Number 10 Political Office.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 31 March 2025, Official Report, PQ 39119.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2026, to Question 104160, on Publications: Gender, which publishers were assessed but not included in the inclusion list.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The SAFE inclusion list currently comprises 607 sites. Following the most recent review, 55 of these sites were categorised as posing a medium risk, and 8 were assessed as high risk.

Although these sites are excluded from the active inclusion list because of the potential risks to the government. It is important to note that this may not completely prohibit use for government communications. A publisher may still be utilised for relevant campaigns, provided appropriate campaign-specific guardrails are implemented to mitigate potential risks.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 5 January 2026 to Question 99527 on Breakfast Clubs and Pay, if he will list the influencers who received funding from the Government.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Influencers are selected based on their reach and alignment with the communications campaign.

To protect commercial confidentiality and interests, information relating to specific individuals will not be released.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 2 December 2025, to Question 93745, on Cabinet Office: Social Media, if he will name the specific social media influencers who were paid to advertise the government in relation to the (a) Free School Breakfast Club, (b) National Living/Minimum Wage, (c) Warm Homes, (d) Audacious Kingdom and (e) Greater Together campaigns.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

These campaigns are used to raise awareness about government schemes and initiatives and promote the UK internationally.

The government recognises content creators as an important way to reach and engage audiences online.

Please note, some data has been withheld due to commercial and wider sensitivities.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many pubs within the Huntingdon constituency are a) Free Houses and b) currently under a Pubco.

Answered by Josh Simons - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

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

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

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to update the Announcements: Direct Ministerial Appointments portal with details of current post-holders.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

It is a requirement of the published Guidance on Making Direct Ministerial Appointments that departments should announce publicly such appointments generally at the time at which an appointment is made. The Direct Ministerial Appointments announcement portal, which went live in December 2025, brings together these announcements from across government. Direct Ministerial Appointment announcements prior to the creation of the portal were published on departmental news pages.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2026, to Question 103784, on Public Appointments: Political Activities, what the (a) name and (b) position is of each person who declared political activity.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

I refer the Hon. Gentleman back to PQ 103784.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 2 December 2025, to Question 93745, on Cabinet Office: Social Media, what is the nature of the data withheld due to commercial and wider sensitivities.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Disclosing specific contract details is likely to damage international relations and compromise the UK's interests abroad, and could prejudice commercial interests.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government is taking to promote entry-level apprenticeships in the civil service.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

This government remains committed to apprenticeships as one pathway to break down barriers to opportunity. On 20th August we launched the application window for a new cross-Government Level 3 apprenticeship programme in Business Administration, The ‘Civil Service Career Launch Apprenticeship’ (CLA) will see new apprentices kick start their careers, across various departments in London, Manchester and Birmingham. In addition, each department is responsible for its own workforce planning and determining the capacity and capability that it needs to deliver its priorities.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment has been made of the reasons for the reduction in the number of Level 2 and Level 3 civil service apprenticeships since 2022.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

This government remains committed to apprenticeships as one pathway to break down barriers to opportunity. It is for individual departments to identify the need and assess effectiveness of apprenticeships, including the use of level 2 and 3 apprenticeships, within their workforce and development plans.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment has been made of the reasons for the reduction in the number of civil service apprentices since 2022.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

This government remains committed to apprenticeships as one pathway to break down barriers to opportunity. It is for individual departments to identify the need and assess effectiveness of apprenticeships, including the use of level 2 and 3 apprenticeships, within their workforce and development plans.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many staff in his Department work on the team that collates trade union facility time data; and what databases are used to store the information (a) requested and (b) collected.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

The Cabinet Office team whose responsibilities previously included, amongst other duties, collating public sector trade union facility time data has five members of staff. Each year the data was published on gov.uk (here). The information is not stored on any databases maintained by the Cabinet Office.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, further to the written statement of 20 January 2026, on Rewiring the State, if he will place in the Library a copy of the revised Senior Civil Service performance management and recruitment guidance.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

The Senior Civil Service (SCS) Performance Management Framework is publicly available online on GOV.UK.

Departments and agencies have authority to determine their practices and procedures for the recruitment of staff to the Civil Service, including the Senior Civil Service. There are no plans to publish internal-facing guidance to the public domain, as it constitutes HR-to-HR guidance designed for departments to integrate into their respective policies and processes.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what is the total cost of facility time in the latest period for which reporting is available, across all Government bodies, broken down by body; and where that cost is paid by the public purse.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

The most recent public-sector trade union facility time data, including the total cost of facility time broken down by Government body, for the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 is published here on .gov.uk.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what changes he plans to make to the cash bonus criteria for civil service servants.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

Pay and reward arrangements below the Senior Civil Service (SCS), including the operation of non-consolidated performance pay (cash bonuses), are delegated to individual departments to determine within the parameters set out in the Civil Service Pay Remit Guidance. Pay for the SCS is subject to an independent pay review body process.

The 2026-27 Pay Remit Guidance for delegated grades will be published in due course. For the SCS, the Government will respond to the Senior Salaries Review Body after it has received its report for 2026-27.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 16 January 2026, to Question 104159, on Trade Unions: Facilities Agreements, if he will place in the Library the names of the individual public sector organisations which were requested by Cabinet Office Trade Union Facility Time Reporting Service to submit trade union facility time data but which did not do so, for the (a) 2023-24 and (b) 2024-25 datasets.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

The answer provided to 104159 was inaccurate and has been corrected. The Cabinet Office does not hold the requested information.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many civil service apprentices in 2024 and 2025 were aged between 18 and 24.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

Civil Service data is not collected for the 18-24 age bracket. However, we can confirm that 3,010 of on-programme apprentices on 31 December 2024 were aged between 16 and 24. The Cabinet Office no longer collates cross-government data on apprenticeships beyond December 2024, so we are unable to provide data for 2025.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 17 December 2025 to Question 99835 on Cabinet Office: Facilities Agreements, whether (a) his and (b) the Permanent Secretary's approval is required for the use of paid facility time for trade union activities in Arms Length Bodies.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

The Cabinet Office’s centrally issued facility time framework states that should a department wish to provide paid time off for activities, it will need to be agreed by the Secretary of State or Chief Executive. Chief Executive refers to the head of the organisation, e.g. Permanent Secretary or Chief Executive of an Arms Length Body.

The framework also states that these principles are expected to be applied across the Civil Service including all departments and agencies employing civil servants. NDPBs outside of this scope are also expected to adopt these principles.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 19 January (HL13271), whether they will detail their plans to reduce back-office costs in the Civil Service by 16 per cent over the next five years; and what savings will be achieved in each year up to 2030.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Spending Review 2025 set each department’s yearly administration budget and committed to reduce them by 16% in total and in real terms by 2029-30. The Spending Review details the planned administration Budgets for each department for each year between 2025-26 and 2029-30.

The reductions will be delivered through savings and efficiencies, supported by the £150 million announced at Spring Statement 2025 to help deliver employee exit schemes, and with greater embedding of a cost-conscious culture across Whitehall, including reducing travel costs.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what correspondence the Prime Minister's office has had with Greta Thunberg since 4 July 2024.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer of 23 July 2025, Official Report, PQ HL9556:

PQ HL9556 Lord Jackson of Peterborough: To ask His Majesty's Government what correspondence the Prime Minister’s Office has had with Greta Thunberg since 4 July 2024. HL9556

Cabinet Office response: It is not routine to publish correspondence between the Prime Minister and any individual

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 21 November 2025 (HC91378), and with reference to paragraph 223 of the Cabinet Office Guide to Parliamentary Work and paragraph 1.6(d) of the Ministerial Code, and the MOD guidance "Contact with the media and communicating in public", why the Cabinet Office did not disclose to Parliament the updated guidance to Civil Servants on public speaking and speaking to the media, even though it is the ongoing policy of the Ministry of Defence to publish their equivalent guidance on gov.uk.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

There are currently no plans to publish this guidance as the area remains subject to ongoing policy development.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his speech of 20 January 2026, entitled “Move fast. Fix things”, whether the new National School of Government and Public Services will be part of the Cabinet Office, or a new Arm's Length Body; and what is its annual budget.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

The National School of Government and Public Services will be part of the Cabinet Office. Its annual budget will be defined through normal Cabinet Office processes with any relevant information published as part of the Cabinet Office annual report and accounts.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 19 January 2026 to Question HL13276 on Arms Length Bodies, what is his timetable for the completion of the review; and how will it report.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

The review is ongoing. Outcomes will be communicated in due course.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on what date the summer internship scheme for 2026 will be open to applicants.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

The Civil Service Summer Internship Programme and Fast Stream campaigns run concurrently. The exact dates for this year’s campaigns are yet to be confirmed but we expect them to launch in mid-October 2026 and run for four weeks.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to publish an updated Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

Yes, we are developing a new Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy. An update on plans for publication will be provided in due course.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 6 January 2026 to Question 100885 on Cabinet Office: Remote Working, if he will set out the methodology for the (a) physical and (b) electronic data collation of the Civil Service headquarters occupancy data, including the use of (i) wifi log-ins associated with location, (ii) computer log-ins associated with location, (iii) swipe pass entry data, (iv) space booking systems, (v) desk booking systems and (vi) manual counting.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

There are four main methods used by departments to collect their Headquarter Occupancy data. It is for departments to determine the most appropriate method of collection. Methods used are:

• Wifi and/or computer log-ins associated with location which track device connectivity to, or logins within, specific building locations.

• Swipe pass entry data which counts arrival and/or exit at defined access points.

• Space or desk booking system which records pre-booked workspaces.

• Manual count which will involve the use of a member of staff physically counting people either at a specified time each day or as they enter and/or exit a building.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 20 January 2026 to Question 104805 on Senior Civil Servants: Redundancy Pay, and with reference to deposited paper entitled Permanent secretary model employment contract, DEP2025-0830, deposited on 4 December 2025, for what business reason the former Cabinet Secretary was awarded the exit payment under the Compulsory Early Termination of Contract provision of paragraph 18.1 and not under the medical grounds or voluntary exit provisions of paragraph 14.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

I refer to my answer for PQs 104805 and 104161, the business case was made on the basis that the Cabinet Secretary departed the Civil Service, and it was calculated on the basis of the Civil Service Compensation Scheme i.e. 1 month’s pay (capped at £149,820 salary) for each year of service.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 4 September 2025, to Question 70489 on Government Communication Service: Marketing, and with reference to paragraph 211 of the Cabinet Office Guide to Parliamentary Work, for what reason the information was released under the Freedom of Information Act but not disclosed to Parliament.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Influencers have proven to be effective in reaching audiences that traditional marketing channels find hard to reach.

Influencer work is supported primarily via the agencies OmniGov and Pablo Unlimited via the Campaign Solutions 2 framework, detailed at the following link:

https://www.crowncommercial.gov.uk/agreements/RM6125

While there were no immediate plans to release the guidance at the time of Question 70489, increased public interest in this topic has now led us to conclude that the public interest favours its release.

I can confirm that the Guidance for Influencer Marketing will be placed in the House Library.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 4 September 2025, to Question 74206, on Government Departments: Social Media, which external firms are used to procure social media influencers across government under CCS Framework RM6125 – Lot 1 End.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Influencers have proven to be effective in reaching audiences that traditional marketing channels find hard to reach.

Influencer work is supported primarily via the agencies OmniGov and Pablo Unlimited via the Campaign Solutions 2 framework, detailed at the following link:

https://www.crowncommercial.gov.uk/agreements/RM6125

While there were no immediate plans to release the guidance at the time of Question 70489, increased public interest in this topic has now led us to conclude that the public interest favours its release.

I can confirm that the Guidance for Influencer Marketing will be placed in the House Library.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Freedom of Information response by the Cabinet Office, Ref: FOI2025/18068, of 5 December 2025, if he will publish the Guidance for Influencer Marketing.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Influencers have proven to be effective in reaching audiences that traditional marketing channels find hard to reach.

Influencer work is supported primarily via the agencies OmniGov and Pablo Unlimited via the Campaign Solutions 2 framework, detailed at the following link:

https://www.crowncommercial.gov.uk/agreements/RM6125

While there were no immediate plans to release the guidance at the time of Question 70489, increased public interest in this topic has now led us to conclude that the public interest favours its release.

I can confirm that the Guidance for Influencer Marketing will be placed in the House Library.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department will publish updated data on the number of cars per household by UK parliamentary constituency.

Answered by Josh Simons - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

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

A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 27th January is attached.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to update or revise the public advice given on the prepare.campaign.gov.uk website.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

By following the advice on gov.uk/prepare, people can improve their preparedness for various types of disruption or emergency, irrespective of the cause. We also work closely with local and national partners to ensure they are aware of – and can share – this important advice with the public.

We regularly review the website's content and continue to explore options for improving it, and for increasing public awareness of emergency preparedness advice beyond the website.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has issued guidance on the provision of official cars to Ministers outside the Government Car Service by (a) the Metropolitan Police and (b) private contractors.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The Government Car Service does not provide advice or guidance on the provision of cars outside its remit, including arrangements made by the Metropolitan Police or private contractors.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will update the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government and the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The Prime Minister values the independent and robust oversight which the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) provides. Following discussions with the Committee, the Cabinet Office is conducting a review of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Prime Minister and the Committee. Any changes made to the MOU would need to be agreed by both the Prime Minister and the ISC.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Prime Minister has agreed a date to meet with victims of press abuse, following his remarks at the Liaison Committee on 15 December 2025.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Officials from the Prime Minister’s Office are in contact to arrange a meeting.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason the portrait of William Shakespeare was removed from the Pillared Room in 10 Downing Street.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The Government Art Collection is a working collection, used across government buildings in the UK and the global estate, which means that artworks may change their display location from time to time. The portrait was pre-planned to be moved by the Government Art Collection prior to the General Election in July 2024.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of broadening the range of circumstances under which a recall petition takes place.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The Government believes that the Recall of MPs Act 2015 is operating well and as intended. There are no plans to increase the number of conditions that can trigger a recall petition.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what the gross domestic product per capita was in (1) Wales, (2) England, (3) Scotland, (4) Northern Ireland, and (5) the United Kingdom, in (a) 2000, (b) 2005, (c) 2010, (d) 2015, (e) 2020, and (f) 2025.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

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

Please see the letter below from the Permanent Secretary of the Office for National Statistics.

Lord Wigley

House of Lords

London

SW1A 0PW

28 January 2026

Dear Lord Wigley,

As Permanent Secretary of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking what the gross domestic product per capita was in (1) Wales, (2) England, (3) Scotland, (4) Northern Ireland, and (5) the United Kingdom, in (a) 2000, (b) 2005, (c) 2010, (d) 2015, (e) 2020, and (f) 2025 (HL13812).

The figures requested, shown in Table 1, are taken from the Regional economic activity by gross domestic product, UK 1998 to 2023 release, which is the latest annual publication of regional gross domestic product (GDP) estimates. We are unable to provide figures for 2025 currently, so we have given estimates for 2023 instead.

All the estimates in our regional GDP release are consistent with those for the UK published in the preceding UK National Accounts, the Blue Book. The current edition is consistent with Blue Book 2024, and for comparability we have reported UK figures from that edition in this response. Please note that more recent estimates for the UK have subsequently been published by the UK National Accounts, but those estimates will lack direct comparability with the estimates we have for nations of the UK.

GDP per capita is calculated by dividing the total GDP for a nation by its total resident population, using the ONS mid-year population estimates. GDP for the UK includes some activity that cannot be assigned to any region, which we call extra-regio. This activity includes offshore oil and gas extraction, the activities of UK embassies abroad and UK armed forces posted overseas. For direct comparability with estimates for individual UK nations we advise use of GDP per capita for the UK less extra-regio, which removes this unallocated element of UK GDP.

Yours sincerely,

Darren Tierney

Table 1: Gross domestic product per capita (£ pounds)

Source: ONS, Gross domestic product per capita in current market prices

1. https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/grossdomesticproductgdp/bulletins/regionaleconomicactivitybygrossdomesticproductuk/1998to2023

2. GDP for the UK includes some activity that cannot be assigned to any region, which we call extra-region.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 20 January 2026, to Question 104805, on Senior Civil Servants: Redundancy Pay, whether the former Cabinet Secretary’s exit payment was made through the (a) the Civil Service Compensation Scheme, (b) the Injury Benefit Scheme or (c) another Civil Service scheme.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

As set out in the Cabinet Office accounts (page 86), the payment for the former Cabinet Secretary was a severance payment, with the value calculated using the Civil Service Compensation Scheme tariff.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many times they have declined to lay before Parliament a draft statutory code submitted by an arm's-length body between January 2015 and December 2025, where that code has not been subject to litigation; and what were the titles of those draft statutory codes.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The information requested is not held centrally by the Cabinet Office.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 19 January (HL13276), when the arm's length bodies (ALB) review will be completed; and whether its findings will be published.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The review is ongoing. Outcomes will be communicated in due course.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 13 January 2026 to Question 103794,on Ministers: Aviation, which business unit of his Department holds the data referenced in the VIP International Flights privacy notice.

Answered by Chris Ward - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The data referenced is held by Cabinet Office Commercial.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 16 January 2025 to Question 22583 on Government Departments: Procurement, whether he has had further discussions with the Institution of Civil Engineers on releasing a new edition of the Construction Playbook.

Answered by Chris Ward - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

A refreshed Construction Playbook is now due to be published in Summer 2026.

Officials will engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including the Institute of Civil Engineers, to ensure that the Playbook continues to reflect procurement best practice in the usual way.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 20 January 2026 to Question 104803, how much the two annual pay awards were; and whether the FDA is recognised as a trade union.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

As set out previously (UIN 54797), the government’s policy is that pay awards for special advisers are considered annually, and any such award is linked to the approach taken for the Senior Civil Service. In line with the headline award for senior civil servants, the 2024/25 pay award for special advisers was 5% and the 2025/26 pay award for special advisers was 3.25%.

The FDA is recognised as a trade union for special advisers.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether full implementation of the McCloud judgement remedy will be completed by April 2027.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

Capita, having assumed responsibility for the Civil Service Pension Scheme in December 2025, is currently preparing a delivery plan for the remaining 2015 Remedy work.

The Cabinet Office expects the majority of the remaining Remediable Service Statements (RSS) will be issued by April 2027.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how he plans to change the hiring criteria for Senior Civil Servants.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

Our approach to hiring for the Senior Civil Service (SCS) is changing to place greater value on frontline delivery, innovation, and private sector experience.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate she made of the cost to her Department of implementing the digital ID scheme since September 2024.

Answered by Josh Simons - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Costs in this Spending Review period will be met within the existing Spending Review settlement.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment his Department has made of the level of the gender pension gap within the civil service pension scheme.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

The gender pension gap can be measured in different ways. In order to answer this question, we have used the difference in average pension in payment for men and women, expressed as a percentage of the average pension for men. Based on the latest data available, from 2024, the gap has reduced from 47% in 2016 to 42%.

We fully expect this position to continue to improve as the equality employment legislation reduces historical differences in both the gap in pay and pensions accruing.

The Cabinet Office will be commissioning the Government Actuary’s Department to carry out further analysis of the current position and will then consider next steps.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to help close the gender pension gap in the Civil Service Pension Scheme.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

The gender pension gap can be measured in different ways. In order to answer this question, we have used the difference in average pension in payment for men and women, expressed as a percentage of the average pension for men. Based on the latest data available, from 2024, the gap has reduced from 47% in 2016 to 42%.

We fully expect this position to continue to improve as the equality employment legislation reduces historical differences in both the gap in pay and pensions accruing.

The Cabinet Office will be commissioning the Government Actuary’s Department to carry out further analysis of the current position and will then consider next steps.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 16 January 2026 to Question 103795 on Government Property Agency: Empty Property, if he will list the addresses of the 13 vacant properties and their last Government occupier.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

Details of vacant space across the government estate, aggregated from departmental submissions, are published annually in the State of the Estate Report. This includes total square metre figures by department, but not individual property-level occupancy or address data.

Members of the public can view information on vacant or surplus government-owned properties via the Government Property Finder: https://www.gov.uk/find-government-property

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 14 January 2026 to Question 103782 on Ministers: Official Cars, which team within the Government Car Service prepares the financial accounts for vehicles provided to Government Departments.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The finance team.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 14 January 2026 to Question 103782 on Ministers: Official Cars, what is the estimated, non-granular aggregate expenditure by the Government Car Service on official cars for civil servants in the Cabinet Office in the last 12 months.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

I refer the Honourable Gentleman to the answer provided to Question 103782. The Government Car Service (GCS) does not invoice separately for ministerial or civil servant use.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 9 December 2025, to Question 94700, on Tim Allan, whether the records held by the Cabinet Office as part of the declaration of interests process for special advisers show that Tim Allan has any shareholdings or share options in lobbying firm, BB Partners Advisory Holdings Limited.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

There is an established system in place for the declaration and management of special advisers' interests, including their financial interests. As has been the case under successive administrations, interests deemed relevant for publication for special advisers in No10 and the Cabinet Office are published on an annual basis by the Cabinet Office. Mr Allan sought and received advice on his interests. He has followed every element of the advice received.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what is the remuneration and terms of reference of Varun Chandra as the Prime Minister’s special envoy to the US on trade and investment; and whether he is a special adviser, civil servant or direct ministerial appointment.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the Special Adviser Annual Report, and the press release on gov.uk which sets out the responsibilities associated with the role. No additional remuneration will be made for the role of Special Envoy.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 16 January 2026 to Question 103786 on Admiralty House: Official Residence, which business unit of the Cabinet Office determines which individual civil servants may use Admiralty House for accommodation; and whether his Department holds data on those civil servants that have used the accommodation in Admiralty House, including the dates of such use.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

Admiralty House is occasionally used overnight by Civil Servants where there is operational need. This is in-line with the usage of Admiralty House across successive governments. Temporary overnight stays require permission from the Prime Minister’s Office.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the trend in the levels of timeliness of Civil Service Pension payments since Capita took over administration of the MyCSP system on 1 December 2025.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

Capita took over the administration on 1 December 2025. Since then, Capita has completed pension payments to approximately 730,000 retired members on time. However, some civil servants and pension scheme members are facing unacceptable delays in accessing their pension payments.

While Capita inherited a significant backlog of cases from the previous provider, MyCSP, this is now worse and we are urgently addressing that. In response, we have set up a dedicated team to work urgently with Capita, with 650 full time staff across Government and Capita clearing critical cases by the end of February and restoring normal service as soon as possible.

We have agreed a clear recovery plan with Capita, which includes specific milestones and accountability targets for delivery. This includes specific commitments to restore service levels for priority cases, deploy additional resources, and improve communication with affected colleagues, so that staff, both former and serving, receive the quality of service and support they deserve.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 19 January 2026 to Question 103787 on Governments Departments: Advertising, if he will provide a breakdown of spending by (a) programme and (b) campaign.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Please see below for the category breakdown of the figure provided in Question 103787:

Digital - £144,968,019

Out of Home - £21,566,434

Press - £6,200,349

Radio - £10,760,710

Television - £31,404,544

This spend is across a number of government departments and a campaign breakdown is not readily available to the Cabinet Office.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to help improve reciprocal visa-waiver arrangements with the EU.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

HMG officials and Ministers, including myself, regularly engage the EU and EU Member State counterparts on a range of issues affecting UK nationals. The UK and the EU allow for visa-free, short-term travel in line with their respective arrangements for third country nationals.

The UK allows EU citizens visa-free travel for up to six months; the EU allows for visa-free travel within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period which is standard for third nationals travelling visa-free to the EU. UK nationals planning to stay longer will need permission from the relevant Member State. The UK Government will continue to listen to and advocate for UK nationals.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, further to the Crown Commercial Service contractfinder entry, Provision of a Systematic evidence review on the impact of the pandemic on mental health, published March 2025, Procurement reference: CCZZ24A16, awarded to the Centre for Strategy and Evaluation Services, if he will publish the report.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The UK Covid-19 Inquiry is independent of government. The systematic evidence review on the impact of the pandemic on mental health, commissioned by the UK Covid-19 Inquiry to support its investigation into the impact of the pandemic on society, will be published on the Inquiry's website during hearings for Module 10, to be held between 16th February 2026 and 5th March 2026.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the UK-EU Summit - Common Understanding, 22 December 2025, whether he plans to make additional financial contributions to the European Union as a consequence of the new provisions on Development and disaster cooperation.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

We have agreed to regular UK-EU dialogue on development issues and to seek to enhance our cooperation on international disaster and humanitarian response.The details of any agreements, including financial contributions, are subject to ongoing negotiations with the EU.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 19 January 2026 to Question 105247 on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who took the decision to recall the papers.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The redactions to the information were agreed at the appropriate level by Cabinet Office officials, following engagement with The National Archives. Papers were not recalled from The National Archives, which is where the closed extracts remain.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the speech by the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister on 20 January, which civil servants will have access to training from the National School of Government and Public Services; how many hours of training will be provided to civil servants; who will provide that training; and whether they will publish the proposed training curriculum.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

His Majesty’s Government is establishing the National School of Government and Public Services to strengthen the professional capability of the Civil Service.

The National School will serve over half a million civil servants. It will provide hundreds of thousands of hours of training as well as on-demand online learning. Training will be provided by a combination of civil service trainers, senior civil servants, and external providers and experts, including leading academic institutions.

We currently publish details of civil service training and will continue to do so as we expand the curriculum, focusing on priority skills including digital and AI. Further details of the proposed training curriculum will be published when the National School launches later in 2026.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether individuals whose parents were middle class when the applicant was aged 14 seeking to apply to the Civil Service Summer Internship Scheme in 2026 will self-certify as working class to sidestep the new working-class requirements; and whether there will be any audit of self-certified declarations of the socio-economic background of summer interns to verify whether applicants are falsely claiming to be working class.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Cabinet Office uses self-certification for the socio-economic data of applicants and we expect the highest levels of integrity from all Civil Servants. This is the same approach taken under the programme's predecessor - the Summer Diversity Internship Programme - from 2010 to 2023.

Any candidate who is found to have misrepresented their circumstances in their application will face a disciplinary investigation.

We will be assessing the impact of our changes at the end of this year's programme as part of our test and learn approach.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the speech by the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister on 20 January, what plans they have to make changes to Civil Services human resources processes to reform performance management.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The delivery objectives of all Senior Civil Servants should be linked to the objectives of the department and minister they serve. The framework is regularly reviewed and updated in alignment with Government priorities.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 19 January (HL13271), when they expect to publish the Civil Service strategic workforce plan; and whether they will detail its objectives.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Civil Service is committed to publishing a Civil Service Strategic Workforce Plan in the first part of this year once departments have finalised their workforce plans as per the financial settlements that were agreed with HMT in the Spending Review and the priorities set by Ministers, including those set out in the Autumn Budget.

The Civil Service Strategic Workforce Plan will set out how the Civil Service workforce will meet the Government’s policies of reducing back office costs by 16% by 2030, halving consultancy spend and targeting spending on front line services.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to paragraph 84 of the UK Government Resilience Action Plan, when the Lead Government Department Expectations will be published.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

We plan to publish the Lead Government Department Expectations in Spring 2026.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2026 to Question 104797 on WPP Media: Contracts, what the latest estimated value is of each individual Lot of the RM6364 framework between 2026 and 2030; and whether the total framework for government Media and Creative Services remains £2,340,000,000 including VAT.

Answered by Chris Ward - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

For the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) framework RM6364 Media and Creative Services, the estimated maximum values for each of the eight lots over the 2026-2030 period are available at the following links:

https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003578-2026

https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/000238-2026?origin=Dashboard

The total estimated framework value remains £2,340,000,000 including VAT (calculated at the rate of 20%).

It should be noted that these are maximum estimated values; actual spend on each lot will be determined by individual public sector bodies based on their specific requirements over the life of the framework.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions he has had with (a) local authorities and (b) Local Resilience Forums on supporting telecommunications resilience during power outages.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

From conversations with local MPs and organisations involved in the response to Storm Goretti, I understand their concerns around telecommunications resilience, particularly in rural areas.

I have asked my officials in the Cabinet Office and my ministerial colleagues in the relevant departments to look very carefully at the lessons being drawn from Storm Goretti and consider what further measures are needed.

Local Resilience Forums have access to the Resilient Voice System, a central government provided capability for use during significant disruption to the telecommunications network.

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Found: Lord Purvis of Tweed Jack Holden (Client Team) Baroness Scott of Needham Market Danielle Nash (Cabinet Office

Found: Officials and Counsel in both Houses should work with the Cabinet Office to review the 2019 Act during

Found: Officials and Counsel in both Houses should work with the Cabinet Office to review the 2019 Act during

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Found: Lord Purvis of Tweed Jack Holden (Client Team) Baroness Scott of Needham Market Danielle Nash (Cabinet Office

Found: Session 2024–26, UK-EU trade: towards a resilient border strategy, HC1927, 15 September 2025 2 Cabinet Office

Found: NEP and the Cabinet Office work closely with departmental leads to deliver exercises which are designed

Found: NEP and the Cabinet Office work closely with departmental leads to deliver exercises which are designed

Found: Correspondence from Minister for the Cabinet Office, HM Paymaster General, re, Social Media Platform

Found: The Cabinet Office is the worst offender.

Found: of our voluntary bidding guidelines and reports on all bidding activity transparently to the Cabinet Office

Found: activity for new customers in the public sector, this was further clarified in our letter to the Cabinet Office

Found: have shared our data on the impacts of the legislative requirement for MP referral with the Cabinet Office

Found: Very best wishes, Dan Jarvis MBE MP Security Minister Cabinet Office and Home Office

Found: The Social Mobility Commission, working alongside the Cabinet Office, has a critical role in providing

Found: A dedicated ministerial lead — ideally in the Cabinet Office with Prime Ministerial backing — should

Found: We recommend the strategy engages more clearly with the Disability Unit in the Cabinet Office.

Found: The Department for Work and Pensions, the Ministry of Justice, the Cabinet Office, the Department for

Found: using-the-algorithmic-transparency-recording-standard. 7 ‘The People Factor: A human-centred approach to scaling AI tools’, Cabinet Office

Found: Fur ther information regarding the Lovegrove Report will be provided from the Cabinet Office. 2.

Found: Letter from Mark Bourgeois, Chief Executive, Government Property Agency, Cabinet Office, regarding Protecting

Found: A cross- government committee that brings together the Minister for Procurement in the Cabinet Office

Found: Science, Innovation & Technology, the Department for Education, His Majesty’s Treasury, the Cabinet Office

Found: Government, Integrated Review Refresh: Responding to a More Contested and Volatile World, March 2023; Cabinet Office

Found: Letter from the Permanent Secretary at the Cabinet Office relating to the Committee’s findings and recommendations

Found: Letter from the Permanent Secretary at the Cabinet Office relating to the Committee’s evidence session

Found: board I think in a couple of weeks—is the Office for the Impact Economy, which now sits in the Cabinet Office

Found: The Cabinet Office has the overall lead within government on national resilience, ensuring coherence

Found: with all regular mandatory workforce transparency requirements and data returns set out by the Cabinet Office

Found: Letter to the Permanent Secretary of the Cabinet Office regarding Treasury Minute - Civil Service Pension

Found: drink (SPS) deal and carbon linking (ETS) agreement before the next UK-EU Summit in 2026.”, Cabinet Office

Found: Correspondence with the Minister for Security, Home Office, and Minister of State, Cabinet Office, relating

Found: The Cabinet Office has also reported receiving 889 WPQs from July 2023 to July 2024 compared with 2,898

Found: questions either for ‘ordinary’ written answer or for written answer on a ‘named day’. 2025 10 Cabinet Office

Found: Cabinet Office, Cabinet Office, and Cabinet Office Oral Evidence

Found: hlniscrutiny@parliament.uk www.parliament.uk/lords Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP Minister for the Cabinet Office

Found: Letter from Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Cabinet Office Minister to Lord Carlile of Berriew re Veterinary

Found: The Roadmap calls for a new Office for Resilience within the Cabinet Office (following the model of

Found: wise, actually, but I assume, if that is the case, there is some mechanism, maybe within the Cabinet Office

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the voluntary sector in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

I meet regularly with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues, including matters relating to the voluntary sector in Northern Ireland. Most recently, my officials have been working in partnership with the Grants Management Function of Cabinet Office for the delivery of the Northern Ireland Office Connect Fund, supporting the work of voluntary organisations in sectors directly affecting Northern Ireland communities and encouraging civic East-West collaboration across the UK.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department will publish an annual summary of due diligence outcomes and contract performance for its highest-value suppliers.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

Home Office meets Cabinet Office transparency arrangements to ensure consistency across Government. There is no current requirement to meet the scope suggested.

Cabinet Office publishes quarterly KPI data from returns supplied by Departments.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the mobilisation of the National Health Service in the event of UK involvement in an armed conflict.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The Cabinet Office leads the Government's Home Defence Programme, in which Defence plays an integral role. The programme is enhancing the UK’s national security and resilience through bolstering civilian-military coordination and planning and enhancing public and private preparedness.

In a new era of threat, the defence and security of the UK requires a whole-of-society approach: the NHS and private healthcare is no exception.

A series of joint exercises involving the Ministry of Defence (MOD), the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), NHS England (NHSE), the Devolved Administrations, Voluntary Aid Societies and allies (USA and Canada) have explored the UK’s ability to deal with casualties across a range of scenarios up to and including warfighting.

NHS(E) will lead a further exercise in February 2026 to consider where pressure would be felt most acutely in the NHS system from an increased number of MOD patients.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the level of preparedness for a Carrington-class event, in particular whether (1) a warning of an event can be received in good time to act, (2) the people receiving the warning can authorise the disconnection of all grid transformers, (3) the people operating those transformers are aware of that authorisation, and (4) plans are in place to inform the public and ensure access to food and water for the duration of the grid shutdown.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Government works with Met Office Space Weather Operations Centre (MOSWOC), National Energy System Operator (NESO) and DESNZ to issue early alerts, providing awareness calls as soon as severe activity is suspected and formal storm watches at least 12 hours before impact.

The UK is a global leader in space weather forecasting, MOSWOC deliver 24/7 forecasts to operators, including NESO, enabling timely protective actions.

NESO and industry are developing the Space Weather Industry Protocol to set out how forecasts are received and acted upon to manage electricity system risks.

The Government has robust contingency plans for major disruptions. While no plans exist specifically for a Carrington scale event, any large-scale outage would follow established national arrangements, including public preparedness guidance, Pre-Agreed Written Science (PAWS) scientific advice, and Cabinet Office planning to support access to essential services

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which (a) Ministers and (b) Senior Civil Servants approved the award of the contract titled AIRE - Advice Issue Reporting and Eligibility to Migrant Help and CCTM22A01 Provision of Bridging Accommodation and Travel Services Contract - Contracts Finder Contract, with a start date of 26 February 2023; and on what date that approval was given.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

This information cannot be disclosed as the detailed financial breakdown of the AIRE contract is commercially sensitive.

This contract was approved by the Commercial Approval Board where it gained approval within Home Office. It was also approved by Cabinet Office Spend Controls and HMT approvals.

The AIRE - Advice Issue Reporting and Eligibility was procured as part of a restricted procedure under the PCR15 regulations.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and service standards are contained within the contract titled AIRE publicly available information: AIRE - Advice Issue Reporting and Elligibility - Contracts Finder

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what Key Performance Indicators and service standards are contained within the contract titled AIRE - Advice Issue Reporting and Eligibility, including any KPIs relating to call handling times, resolution rates, and complaint outcomes.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

This information cannot be disclosed as the detailed financial breakdown of the AIRE contract is commercially sensitive.

This contract was approved by the Commercial Approval Board where it gained approval within Home Office. It was also approved by Cabinet Office Spend Controls and HMT approvals.

The AIRE - Advice Issue Reporting and Eligibility was procured as part of a restricted procedure under the PCR15 regulations.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and service standards are contained within the contract titled AIRE publicly available information: AIRE - Advice Issue Reporting and Elligibility - Contracts Finder

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the cost of the 24-hour service provision under the contract titled AIRE - Advice Issue Reporting and Eligibility is; and what assessment was made of the value for money of providing a 24-hour service.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

This information cannot be disclosed as the detailed financial breakdown of the AIRE contract is commercially sensitive.

This contract was approved by the Commercial Approval Board where it gained approval within Home Office. It was also approved by Cabinet Office Spend Controls and HMT approvals.

The AIRE - Advice Issue Reporting and Eligibility was procured as part of a restricted procedure under the PCR15 regulations.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and service standards are contained within the contract titled AIRE publicly available information: AIRE - Advice Issue Reporting and Elligibility - Contracts Finder

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what procurement route was used for the contract titled AIRE - Advice Issue Reporting and Eligibility; and whether it was awarded via open tender.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

This information cannot be disclosed as the detailed financial breakdown of the AIRE contract is commercially sensitive.

This contract was approved by the Commercial Approval Board where it gained approval within Home Office. It was also approved by Cabinet Office Spend Controls and HMT approvals.

The AIRE - Advice Issue Reporting and Eligibility was procured as part of a restricted procedure under the PCR15 regulations.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and service standards are contained within the contract titled AIRE publicly available information: AIRE - Advice Issue Reporting and Elligibility - Contracts Finder

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the breakdown of costs by financial year is for the contract with Migrant Help entitled AIRE - Advice Issue Reporting and Eligibility since 1 March 2019.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

This information cannot be disclosed as the detailed financial breakdown of the AIRE contract is commercially sensitive.

This contract was approved by the Commercial Approval Board where it gained approval within Home Office. It was also approved by Cabinet Office Spend Controls and HMT approvals.

The AIRE - Advice Issue Reporting and Eligibility was procured as part of a restricted procedure under the PCR15 regulations.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and service standards are contained within the contract titled AIRE publicly available information: AIRE - Advice Issue Reporting and Elligibility - Contracts Finder

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of spending under the contract entitled AIRE - Advice Issue Reporting and Eligibility has been paid to subcontractors; which subcontractors have received payments; and what services those payments were for.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

This information cannot be disclosed as the detailed financial breakdown of the AIRE contract is commercially sensitive.

This contract was approved by the Commercial Approval Board where it gained approval within Home Office. It was also approved by Cabinet Office Spend Controls and HMT approvals.

The AIRE - Advice Issue Reporting and Eligibility was procured as part of a restricted procedure under the PCR15 regulations.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and service standards are contained within the contract titled AIRE publicly available information: AIRE - Advice Issue Reporting and Elligibility - Contracts Finder

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether Valuation Office Agency staff will have their contractual terms amended following its merger with HMRC.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Valuation Office Agency will close from 1 April 2026 with all colleagues transferring into HMRC. Colleagues will transfer under the Cabinet Office Statement of Practice (COSoP) with which HMRC and the VOA have complied in full.

All contractual terms currently held by colleagues working for the VOA have been protected as a matter of principle during this process and will be honoured in full on transfer to HMRC.

HMRC and VOA have consulted with VOA’s recognised Trade Unions during the COSoP process to ensure that meaningful engagement and discussion has taken place concerning all matters relating to the transfer.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what the full responsibilities of the Minister for Digital ID are.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Josh Simons MP has been appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, serving as a joint Minister between the Cabinet Office and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

Minister Simons is responsible for supporting and providing assurance to the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in the Cabinet Office and the Secretary of State for DSIT on the design and cross-government delivery of the digital ID programme. He will work closely with Minister Murray, Minister of State for Digital Government and Data, who retains ownership of related areas including data policy and other Government Digital Products.

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the draft Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations was submitted to the Cabinet Office on 8 April 2025; and if not, on what date that draft was submitted.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The EHRC revised its Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations following its consultation after the UK Supreme Court ruling in For Women Scotland, and submitted it to the Minister for Women and Equalities on 4 September 2025.

The Government is considering the draft updated Code and, if the decision is taken to approve it, the Secretary of State will lay it before Parliament. Parliament will then have a 40 day period to consider the draft Code.

The Minister is following the process in the Equality Act 2006 and consulted the Devolved Governments at the relevant stages, as required under section 14(9). Consultation with Welsh and Scottish Ministers is required if, or in so far as, the Code relates to a duty imposed by or under the Public Sector Equality Duty. As part of the consultation, the draft Code has been shared with the Devolved Administrations.

We have always been clear that there is a due process that needs to be followed by all. Our priority is getting this right. We will continue to work with the EHRC to ensure Ministers are able to make a fully informed decision.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the vulnerability of the United Kingdom's electrical and communications systems to extreme space weather; (2) the strength and distribution of geoelectric fields which would be induced across the UK by a Carrington-class geomagnetic storm; and (3) the impact that any resultant induction hazards may have on man-made conductors.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government works with National Energy System Operator (NESO) to assess and prepare for space weather risks to the power grid and telecoms, supported by the Space Weather Impact for Future Electricity System Resilience (SWIFTER) projects will provide an assessment of the probability of impacts. A severe geomagnetic storm could generate uneven geoelectric fields across the UK, with effects possible nationwide depending on geology and grid configuration. Resulting geomagnetically induced currents may disrupt power systems and cause local outages, which could in turn affect telecoms and GNSS based timing.

While no plans exist specifically for a Carrington scale event, any large-scale outage would follow established national arrangements, including public preparedness guidance, Pre-Agreed Written Science (PAWS) scientific advice, and Cabinet Office planning to support access to essential services.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking with the Minister for the Cabinet Office to help tackle the harm caused by sodium valproate to (a) women with epilepsy and (b) their families.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Everyone who has been harmed from sodium valproate has our deepest sympathies.

Action has been taken to minimise the risk associated with valproate to women with epilepsy, and their families. This includes the valproate Pregnancy Prevention Programme, which ensures that women and girls taking valproate understand the potential risks should they become pregnant, are using effective contraception, and are regularly monitored. Further measures introduced in 2024 mean valproate must not be started in new patients, either male or female, younger than 55 years old, unless two specialists independently consider and document that there is no other effective or tolerated treatment, or there are compelling reasons that the reproductive risks do not apply.

The Government is also carefully considering the Patient Safety Commissioner’s recommendations made in The Hughes Report, which includes proposed approaches to redress for those harmed by sodium valproate. This work requires coordinated input from several departments, and we will provide a further update in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2025 on Question 95787 on the Prime Minister, what is the estimated total departmental spend by his department to supporting the Minister for the Union in their role since the office was established.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The title of Minister for the Union has been held by the Prime Minister since its creation in 2019. Responsibility for Union policy has sat across departments (including MHCLG) and currently sits within the Cabinet Office. The Department does not currently provide any direct financial support to the Minister for the Union.

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Found: HM Treasury with the Cabinet Office published its Corporate Governance Code of Good Practice and guidance

Found: increase in employment costs is due to a combination of the annual pay award approved by the Cabinet Office

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Found: Home Office, the Attorney General’s Office, the Department of Health and Social Care and the Cabinet Office

Found: Case study: One Step Greener The Cabinet Office worked with influencers to increase awareness of the

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