Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the total cost was of (a) settlement agreements and (b) special severance payments made to departing staff in the last year.

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

For the last financial year, the total cost to the Cabinet Office of payments associated with settlement agreements is set out in Annual Report and Accounts. Please find attached link here

Figures for 2025/26 are not yet available as the analysis has not been conducted and the figures have not been audited. These will be published in the department's 2025/26 Annual Report and Accounts in September 2026.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost will be to the public purse of delivering the National Leadership Forum 2026 including venue costs, external speakers, staffing costs and preparatory work.

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

The cost of the National Leadership Forum 2026 event has not been finalised. The event is in early design stages, and decisions have not been taken on the venues, speakers, and other costs.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the title is of the Senior Responsible Owner leading on the (a) Home Defence Programme and (b) Resilience Action Plan.

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

The Resilience Action Plan and Home Defence Programme are led by the COBR Director and COBR Directorate, with oversight by the Deputy National Security Advisor (DNSA) for Intelligence, Defence and Security. Ministerial oversight is provided by the Security Minister.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what part of his Department is leading on the Home Defence programme.

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

The Resilience Action Plan and Home Defence Programme are led by the COBR Director and COBR Directorate, with oversight by the Deputy National Security Advisor (DNSA) for Intelligence, Defence and Security. Ministerial oversight is provided by the Security Minister.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, following the decision to disband the Resilience directorate in the Cabinet Office, who is responsible for implementing the Resilience Action Plan.

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

The COBR Directorate in the Cabinet Office is responsible for the coordination of resilience, civil contingencies planning, and crisis management across the system.

This brings together the former Resilience Directorate and the former COBR Unit, which will ensure that all phases of the crisis management cycle report to a single Director and is in line with the Cabinet Office vision for a specialist, smaller and more strategic centre.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the value of a) grants and b) other forms of financial assistance to charities working in the immigration sector was in each of the last three financial years.

Answered by Chris Ward - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Government publishes data on grant funding annually in the Government grants register on gov.uk.

Grant funding for the period 2023/24 is publicly available. Grants funding data for 2024/25 will be published in March 2026. Grants funding data for 2025/26 is scheduled for publication in March 2027.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department about the potential impact of the extension of the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain on the success of the Child Poverty Strategy.

Answered by Chris Ward - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Government’s Child Poverty Strategy, Our Children, Our Future: Tackling Child Poverty, was published on 5 December 2025. It sets out the steps this Government will take to reduce child poverty and to reverse the trend from 2010-2024.

Responsibility for the Child Poverty Strategy lies with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Secretary of State for Education, as co-chairs of the Child Poverty Taskforce.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 1 December 2025, to Question 93377, on Civil Service: Unpaid Work, who determines the main household earner in the case of an applicant with two different families where the parents have divorced or separated.

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

We use an applicant’s response to determine socio-economic background, including the occupation of the ‘main household earner’ when the applicant was 14 years old. This is in line with the guidance from the ONS and Social Mobility Commission.

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 organisations, broken down by organisation, 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, broken down by organisation, 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, with reference to the VIP International Flights privacy notice, published 2 January, whether the Cabinet Office holds information on the (1) number, (2) cost and (3) destination of VIP flights for (a) the Prime Minister, (b) Cabinet Office Ministers and (c) other Ministers.

Answered by Chris Ward - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

In accordance with the Ministerial Code, the Government is committed to transparency regarding official travel. Information relating to relevant ministerial travel is published on a quarterly basis and can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ministers-transparency-publications#2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many civil servants FTE work on the Home Defence Programme within the Cabinet Office.

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

The Home Defence Programme (HDP) is led by the COBR Directorate in the Cabinet Office. COBR is responsible for coordinating preparedness and response to a range of risks facing the UK, including potential hostilities affecting the UK. For national security reasons, the government does not routinely comment publicly on the size of such teams.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the total expected value is of the media strategy, planning, and buying contract awarded to WPP Media; and what estimated cost savings will result from reducing the number of suppliers under the new agreement.

Answered by Chris Ward - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

WPP Media has been awarded a place on Lot 1 of the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) RM6364 Media and Creative Services agreement.

The agreement, managed by CCS, will play an important role in ensuring that the UK public receives clear, accurate, and authoritative information from the government. By uniting media planning and buying under a single agency, the government will streamline its work to reach target audiences more effectively across diverse platforms. This consolidation is designed to drive value, improve operational efficiency, and ensure more effective media buying for every pound of public money spent.

Spend and related savings will be determined by individual public sector bodies based on their specific requirements.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to page 97 of the Government's document entitled Our Children, Our Future: Tackling Child Poverty, updated on 23 December 2025, when the new guidance to aid local authorities in their understanding of their statutory duties and interaction with No Recourse to Public Funds will be issued.

Answered by Chris Ward - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Government’s Child Poverty Strategy, Our Children, Our Future: Tackling Child Poverty, was published on 5 December 2025. It sets out the steps this Government will take to reduce child poverty and to reverse the trend from 2010-2024.

The new guidance document designed to assist local authorities’ understanding of their statutory duties and interaction with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) will be published in the Spring.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what performance indicators will be used to evaluate WPP Media’s provision of media planning and buying services across Government; and how often performance will be reviewed.

Answered by Chris Ward - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Crown Commercial Service reviews framework-level performance on a quarterly basis, including pricing commitments, financial transparency, social value delivery, and client satisfaction.

Individual departments are responsible for managing day-to-day performance and specific service-level agreements for their own call-off contracts.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to respond to correspondence from the hon. Member for Newton Abbot dated 16 December 2025 on an FOI relating to a request to search for and provide copies of documents then held by the private office of the then Prime Minister Boris Johnson relating to a meeting with Peter Thiel on 28 August 2019.

Answered by Chris Ward - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Cabinet Office responded to the hon. Member’s request on 8 January 2026, within the statutory time limit.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate his Department has made of the number of premature deaths in (i) England and (ii) the UK attributable to (a) smoking, (b) air pollution, (c) alcoholism and (d) obesity in the last 12 months.

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 5th of January is attached.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has a policy on access to (a) diary and (b) private secretaries for senior civil servants.

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

It is up to each department to make their own policy. No such policy exists within the Cabinet Office.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many and what proportion of staff were promoted (a) in-grade and (b) to a higher grade in the last year broken down by (i) performance marking in the previous year and (ii) grade.

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

This data would be difficult to present, due to there being no definition of an in grade promotion and limited data on staff who go on promotion to another department. Collation and presentation of this data would require significant manual work and data linking across departments.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what meetings Varun Chandra has had with external organisations excluding senior media executives since his appointment.

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

In line with longstanding process, relevant meetings are declared in the Special Advisor transparency publications.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many and what proportion of staff in each grade were rated in the top performance category in the last year.

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

All CO staff members (in scope) are allocated a performance marking at both the mid (Oct) and end of year (April) points of the performance year as part of their performance reviews.

The below table sets out what proportion of staff in each grade were awarded an Exceeding marking for the 24/25 end of year process.

This data covers all performance markings which have been uploaded onto our central system (SOP).

The data will not include all agencies as many have their own dedicated systems to record this information and are not subject to the CO performance processes.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 13 October 2025 to Question 77563,on Palantir, why the visit to the offices of Palantir Technologies in Washington with Lord Mandelson on 27 February 2025 was out of scope of the Prime Minister's transparency return of the publication Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP meetings, January to March 2025.

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

I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 13 October 2025, Official Report, PQ 77563.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the number of retired civil servants that have been required to repay overpaid pension benefits due to administrative errors made by civil service pension providers in the last ten years; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of these instances on the people affected.

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

The administration of the Civil Service Pension Scheme is the responsibility of the Cabinet Office. While the scheme does not publicly report overpayments due to administrator errors, in the last ten years overpayments caused solely by ‘administrative errors’, resulted in a total of 381.

The scheme follows the HM Treasury guidance on “Managing Public Money” which requires the scheme, where possible, to recover any money that a member is not entitled to. Recognising that recovery of overpayments may cause distress we work closely with individual members to ensure that payment recovery plans are affordable, take account of hardship and minimise the impact for the member both in terms of finances and wellbeing. This usually includes setting payment plans to recover monies owed over a reasonable period of time.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people died from conditions related to obesity in England in each year since 2021.

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 Questions of 6th January is attached.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people died from alcoholism in England in each year since 2021.

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 Questions of 6th January is attached.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, following the closure of Voluntary Repayment of COVID-19 Funding, if he will publish full data on which companies took Covid support, and which companies subsequently made repayments.

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

The details of many companies who received certain forms of Covid support have previously been published. However, the government does not intend to publish full data on the recipients of support across every Covid scheme.

Whether companies made repayment of Covid support, either through the Voluntary Repayment Scheme or through other means, will also remain confidential. We do not want to discourage repayment. Voluntary repayment does not necessarily indicate fraud.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many deaths there were from cardiovascular causes in (a) East Midlands, (b) East of England, (c) Greater London, (d) North East, (e) North West, (f) South East, (g) South West, (h) West Midlands, (i) Yorkshire and the Humber and (j) England in each year since 2021 for which figures are available.

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 Questions of 6th January is attached.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make it his policy that digital identity would only be made a condition of access to employment, public services, or social security with Parliamentary approval.

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

Where legislation is required, Parliament will scrutinise this in the usual way.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent estimate he has made of the number of pubs facing closure.

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 2nd January is attached.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how migration data is shared with the Office for National Statistics to inform population estimates.

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 7th January is attached.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the accuracy of population estimates derived from the 2021 Census.

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 7th January is attached.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 5 January 2025, to Question 100331, 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 last 12 months.

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

The Government Car Service (GCS) offers vehicles to government departments as a shared resource. Each department independently determines the allocation of these vehicles. GCS does not invoice separately for ministerial or civil servant use.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Our management section of the Cabinet Office website and further to his Department's document entitled Special advisers: code of conduct, updated on 6 November 2024, for what reason Jonathan Powell is listed in the management section.

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

The National Security Adviser sets direction – on behalf of the Prime Minister – for national security and foreign policy in the National Security Secretariat. Some leadership and corporate responsibilities – such as the line management of civil servants, accounting or matters affecting a civil servant’s career such as recruitment, promotion, reward and discipline – are not carried out by the National Security Adviser.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the (a) terms of reference and (b) membership of the Undersea Infrastructure Security Oversight Board.

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

The Undersea Infrastructure Security Oversight Board provides a joined-up function and sets strategic direction across government on undersea infrastructure security.

The core membership includes key government stakeholders with an interest in undersea infrastructure security. This includes representation from DSIT, DESNZ, MOD, Defra, DFT, Home Office, Royal Navy and others as required. It is chaired and convened by the Cabinet Office.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Undersea Infrastructure Security (UIS) Oversight Board report to ministers in (a) his department, and (b) other government departments.

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

The senior official-level Undersea Infrastructure Security Oversight Board will escalate issues to Cabinet Office ministers and the National Security Council as required.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Integrated Security Fund Annual Report 2024–25, of 30 October 2025, if he will establish a due-diligence process to ensure that ISF programmes scored as principal for gender equality are not used to advance ideological objectives.

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

The Integrated Security Fund delivers programmes which align to UK national security and resilience priorities. Programmes promote gender equality where it is relevant and appropriate.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 2 January 2026 to Question 100730, whether electronic messages held in the Private Office of the then Prime Minister on 28 August 2019 would ordinarily have been assigned subject classifications for meetings with external individuals.

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

The guidance in place in August 2019 has been published by the National Archives: https://cdn.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documents/popapersguidance2009.pdf

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 2 January 2025 to Question 100332 on Public Appointments: Political Impartiality, what was the source of the political activity data for 2024-25 contained within the 2024-25 annual report of the Commissioner for Public Appointments, page 41, published on 17 December 2025.

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

Political activity information is collected from candidates as part of the public appointments digital service’s online application process. This was the source of the Commissioner’s data.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the publication entitled Ministers' overseas travel and meetings: Publication Guidance, January 2025, and the paragraph 1(a) guidance on foreign meetings, whether a meeting with a foreign government with an external organisation would require the publication as attendees of (a) the name of the foreign government and the name of the external organisation or (b) just the name of the external organisation.

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

The same Publication Guidance the Hon Member quotes makes clear that in such scenarios, "the meeting should be declared including the names of these [external] organisations or individuals only”.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much their Department has spent on (a) advertising and (b) marketing in each of the last three years.

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

Total spend with our media buying and planning agency for the last three financial years is as follows:

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 2 January 2026 to Question 99828 on Cabinet Office: Social Media, what is the campaign or topic associated with (a) Government Digital and Data and (b) Great Futures.

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

Government Digital and Data is related to recruitment, and Great Futures forms part of the wider GREAT campaign which encourages international audiences to visit, study and do business with the UK.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 4 September 2025, to Question 73325, on Armed Forces: Conferences, if he will place in the Library the equivalent Cabinet Office guidance for officials on contact with the media.

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

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, what (a) social media and (b) other media subscriptions his Department has paid for in the last 12 months.

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

Subscriptions are delegated to team level and not managed departmentally.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on what dates his Department has received Freedom of Information requests relating to the Downing Street flats since 4 July 2024; what information was requested; and what the substantive decision was in each case.

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

Requests made under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act (2000) are handled on a case by case basis. The relevant records are not structured in such a way that would provide an answer without incurring a disproportionate cost.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 2 January 2026, to Question 99825, on Tom Kibasi, whether he served the full two month secondment in Downing Street.

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

I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 2 January 2026, Official Report, PQ 99825.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that goods produced through forced labour are not purchased within the framework of government contracts.

Answered by Chris Ward - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Abhorrent practices such as forced labour and modern slavery have no place in government contracts or in wider society. This Government is determined to stamp this out.

The Procurement Act 2023 provides contracting authorities with stronger powers to exclude suppliers from public procurements where there is compelling evidence of modern slavery within their supply chains.

In February 2025, the Government updated Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 009 ‘Tackling Modern Slavery in Government Supply Chains’, advocating a risk based approach to identifying and managing modern slavery risks, and encourages departments to conduct due diligence using a range of tools, such as the Modern Slavery Assessment Tool (MSAT), and approaches to support decision making.

The MSAT is a modern slavery risk identification and management tool. This tool has been designed to help public sector organisations work in partnership with suppliers to improve protections and reduce the risk of exploitation of workers in their supply chains.

This government has also made the Anti-Slavery Risk Tiering Tool (ARTT) available for public sector buyers in October 2025. This tool enables faster risk assessments and clear next steps to mitigate modern slavery risks across the commercial lifecycle.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 2 January (HL13204), whether they expect the overall Civil Service headcount to decrease, stay the same, or increase between this year and 2030.

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

Departments are developing plans on the size and shape of their workforces 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. These plans will take a whole workforce approach based on the cost of civil servants, Contingent Labour, Consultancy and Managed Services.

At an overall Civil Service level, we have set out plans to reduce back office costs by 16% over the next five years, delivering savings of over £2.2 billion a year by 2030 and targeting spending on front line services. The Civil Service is committed to publishing a Civil Service Strategic Workforce Plan this year, which will confirm more details about the plans for our workforce.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 2 January (HL13132), whether the arm's length bodies (ALB) review described as "recently completed" in paragraph 2.84 of the November 2025 Budget is a separate review to the one described as ongoing in this answer; and whether the decision to close NHS England, announced on 13 March 2025, was a result of either of these ALB reviews.

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

The reference in paragraph 2.84 of the November 2025 Budget refers to the arm's length body review that was launched on 6 April 2025. That review is ongoing. The decision to close NHS England, announced on 13 March 2025, predates the launch of the arm's length bodies (ALB) review.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 20 November 2025, to Question 90240, on Cabinet Office: Secondment, if he will list the names of the organisations that have had Civil Servants seconded to them since July 2024, according to records centrally held through the secondments data commission.

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

The Civil Service has seconded staff in from private, public and voluntary sector organisations and has also seconded staff out. Secondments remain a key route to utilising essential skills and experience into the right roles and teams, enabling talented individuals from within and outside the Civil Service to share critical capabilities and innovative thinking for a set period of time.

The secondments data commission provides insight on inward and outward secondments taking place across government. The Cabinet Office has worked closely with departments to improve the amount, detail and quality of the data available including names of organisations individuals have been seconded from or to, where this information is available. The limited number of records/ data sets can impact third party organisations and makes the data personally identifiable information, and therefore it will not be possible to publish this data.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what datasets the Office for National Statistics collates and holds of the size of the population, and population growth, by religion, faith or belief, other than from the Census.

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 7th January is attached.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 20 November 2025, to Question 90240, on Cabinet Office: Secondment, if he will list the names of the organisations that have seconded staff into central government since July 2024, according to records centrally held through the secondments data commission.

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

The Civil Service has seconded staff in from private, public and voluntary sector organisations and has also seconded staff out. Secondments remain a key route to utilising essential skills and experience into the right roles and teams, enabling talented individuals from within and outside the Civil Service to share critical capabilities and innovative thinking for a set period of time.

The secondments data commission provides insight on inward and outward secondments taking place across government. The Cabinet Office has worked closely with departments to improve the amount, detail and quality of the data available including names of organisations individuals have been seconded from or to, where this information is available. The limited number of records/ data sets can impact third party organisations and makes the data personally identifiable information, and therefore it will not be possible to publish this data.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 21 July 2025, to Question 65368, on Empty Property, how many dwellings are owned or managed by the Government Property Agency which are currently empty.

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

There are currently 13 vacant properties within the Government Property Agency’s managed portfolio. This total includes sites that are in the process of being disposed of or have been vacated to facilitate ongoing refurbishment work with the aim to improve the overall condition and efficiency of the managed estate.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to implement the recommendations of the Independent review of data, statistics and research on sex and gender in full.

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 lady’s Parliamentary Question of 8th January is attached.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 20 November 2025, to Question 90245, on Admiralty House: Official Residences, which civil servants, and from which business unit, are allowed to stay in the Admiralty House official residences.

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

I refer the Hon Member to my answer of 20 November 2025, Official Report, PQ 90245.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government when discussions with the European Union about UK participation in the Erasmus+ programme beyond 2028 will commence.

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

The UK and European Commission have reached an agreement in principle for the UK’s association to Erasmus+ in 2027. The Government’s immediate focus is to work to maximise take-up across all sectors so that the benefits of Erasmus+ association in 2027 can be fully realised.

Going forward, any continued UK participation in Erasmus+ under the next Multiannual Financial Framework will be informed by our experience of association in 2027 and will be based on a fair and balanced contribution. Discussions on any future association would commence closer to the time.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the reason why the public statement on 6 January about the appointment of Axel Heitmueller as Head of the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit and Expert Adviser on Delivery does not include his (1) remuneration, or (2) expected end date, in line with paragraph 21 of Guidance on Making Direct Ministerial Appointments, published October 2025.

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

This information was published by the government on the new Direct Ministerial Appointments Announcements Portal.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what correspondence the Government has had with the Information Commissioner's Office on the data sharing pilot between HMRC and the Home Office.

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

In October 2025, the ICO Review Board observer submitted an inquiry to the DEA Secretariat regarding a news article pertaining to a data sharing arrangement between HMRC and the Home Office.

The DEA Secretariat subsequently contacted HMRC, who forwarded it to the ICO observer.

The minutes from the DEA Debt and Fraud Review Boards are also routinely published on GOV.UK.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the guidance entitled National Fraud Initiative: public-sector data specifications, updated on 11 November 2025, whether the council tax data matching will include the second homes council tax premium, where single person discount is not being claimed.

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

The National Fraud Initiative (NFI), as part of the Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA), works closely with local authorities to help them identify and prevent fraud.

As part of this, the NFI is currently collaborating with local authorities to understand the fraud risks related to council tax second home premiums.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what consideration has been made of requiring Digital ID to sign into social media accounts.

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

We are inviting the public to have their say in the upcoming consultation as we develop a safe, secure, and inclusive system for the UK, including on the possible range of uses of the digital credential.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 10 November 2025, to Question 84476, on Proof of Identity: Digital Technology, what the wider policy and guidance from the Cabinet Office is on whether departments should consider written consultation responses from individuals or organisations who are subject to a policy of non-engagement.

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

The Cabinet Office has published consultation principles which set out how consultations should be conducted.

They are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/consultation-principles-guidance.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 9 December 2025 to Question 95883, on Visitor Levy, whether the Office for National Statistics intends to classify the overnight visitor levy as a tax for statistical purposes.

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 7th January is attached.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2025, to Question, 90238, on Government Communications Service: Staff, if he will publish the number of (a) headcount and (b) FTE Government Communication Service staff in each government department, central public body and Arm’s Length Body, including NHS, according to information collated in the most recent Government Communications Service audit; and what are the aggregate figures.

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

Please see the table below that contains the full-time equivalent figures for departments. These figures incorporate the ALBs, which are grouped under their respective sponsoring organisations.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 2 January 2025 to Question 100334 on Public Appointments: Social Class, and the Commissioner for Public Appointment’s annual report of 2024-25 published in December 2025, on what date in 2024-25 did the Cabinet Office start to ask applicants for public appointments of their social class; and his Department provides guidance; and whether it is compulsory for applicants to provide this data.

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

Socio-economic background questions were added to the application process on the public appointments digital service in May 2024. All candidates are required to provide a response to these questions as part of their application, but they can state ‘prefer not to say’ if they wish. Guidance on completing diversity questions, including socio-economic background, is provided to candidates via the digital service.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 2 January 2026 to Question 99528 on Ministers: Corporate Hospitality and Official Gifts, whether Ministers are required to inform the Cabinet Office where a gift or hospitality is accepted by a Minister and the gift is subsequently returned, refunded or repaid.

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

Annex A, Paragraph 8 of the Ministers' Gifts and Hospitality: Publication Guidance, available on GOV.UK, outlines the process to be followed if the status of a gift changes at a later date.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, further to the Commissioner for Public Appointment’s annual report 2024-25, published December 2025, page 17, what is the timetable for the Cabinet Office publishing a Senior Independent Panel Member list.

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

The Senior Independent Panel Member list referred to in the Commissioner for Public Appointment’s annual report 2024-25 is not intended for public disclosure. The list, which is under development, will be an internal register available for departmental officials to access in the public appointments digital service, to support the efficient and effective running of public appointment campaigns.

The composition of an advisory assessment panel is provided in the advertisement for each campaign, including the Senior Independent Panel Member.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 2 January 2026 to Question 99536 on Ministers: Public Appointments, what is an internal desk note; and what legal or constitutional status do they hold.

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

There is no formal definition of what constitutes an internal desk note, but it is generally considered to mean a document containing internal procedural advice on the technical and policy considerations that should be taken into account by officials when implementing an area of policy. Such documents offer guidance on good practice, sometimes in interpreting legislative responsibilities, but do not in themselves hold any legal status.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 2 January 2026, to Question 99531, on Government Departments: Advertising, how much has been spent on (a) digital, (b) out of home, (c) press, (d) radio and (e) television since July 2024.

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

The total spend figures across central departments since July 2024 is £214,900,056.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 21 July 2025, to Question 65368, on Empty Property, what records does the Office of Government Property’s Insite database hold on the number of (a) residential and (b) non-residential public sector properties which are vacant or empty.

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

The Office of Government Property’s InSite database brings together property information provided by central government departments to support oversight of the government estate.

(a) Residential properties

InSite does not hold centrally validated records on the number of residential public sector properties that are vacant or empty. Responsibility for managing residential properties, including determining and recording vacancy status, rests with the individual owning departments. The Cabinet Office therefore does not hold a central record of vacant or empty residential public sector properties.

(b) Non-residential properties

InSite holds information on non-residential public sector properties that are vacant or surplus, based on information provided by departments to support cross-government estate oversight, with coverage continuing to develop as the system matures. This includes:

• Operational use; and

• a Vacant Space dataset, which records vacant spaces within non-residential buildings that remain in operational use.

Data drawn from InSite is also published on gov.uk at https://www.data.gov. uk/dataset/a3ad62cf-d8a2-4d3b-b3c6-24c35c5e0f71/the-government-property-estate-including-buildings-and-land to ensure continued transparency. These datasets relate to non-residential property only and reflect the information provided by departments at the time of publication.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 2 January 2026, to Question 99822, on Publications: Gender, on how many occasions since July 2024 has a publication or publisher failed a SAFE assessment.

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

There are currently 67 publishers who have been assessed but not included in the inclusion list. 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 His Majesty's Government, with reference to Permanent secretary model employment contract, deposited in the House of Commons Library on 4 December 2025 (DEP2025-0830), whether they will place the model contract for the Senior Civil Service in the Library of the House.

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

A copy of the model contract has been placed in the House Library.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many civil servants are employed through Skilled Worker visas in (1) the Cabinet Office, and (2) its Executive Agencies.

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

39 Civil Servants are employed through Skilled Worker visas in (1) the Cabinet Office and 0 in its (2) Executive Agencies.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Commission for Public Appointments, Annual Report, 2024-25, p.41, if he will place in the Library a copy of the full dataset on the 67 individuals who declared political activity that is held by the Cabinet Office.

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

As was the case under previous governments, and in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments, the political activity of successful candidates is published by government departments as part of the public announcement regarding the appointment.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department is taking steps to provide small scale flower farmers with standard industrial classification codes; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of doing so on helping to (a) track economic activity, (b) track industry trends and (c) provide information to her Department on the contributions of ecology to the economy.

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 lady’s Parliamentary Question of 12th January is attached.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what guidance his Department has issued to local authorities on (a) formally notifying and (b) engaging with Members of Parliament during significant environmental or public safety incidents affecting their constituencies.

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

The government issues a range of guidance on the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, its associated regulations and wider non-statutory arrangements for civil protection. This supports local responders, which includes Local Authorities, to understand how to fulfil their duties under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and how to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies taking place in the UK, including environmental and public safety incidents.

Cabinet Office guidance, including the ‘Emergency Response and Recovery’ guidance and ‘National Resilience Standards for Local Resilience Forums’ guidance, provides information on protocols that local responders should have for ensuring appropriate political involvement in the management of emergencies, particularly in the recovery phase. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has also issued ‘Local authorities’ preparedness for civil emergencies: a good practice guide for chief executives’ guidance which provides assistance to chief executives of local authorities to make sure they are well-prepared to respond and recover from emergencies. This includes the need to provide clear information to politicians on what is happening during an emergency.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 18 December 2025, to Question 99534, on Census: Costs, and the letter from the Permanent Secretary of 17 December 2025, whether there is a working estimate of the potential total cost of the 2031 Census programme in England and Wales; and what statistics UKSA or ONS hold on the outturn total cost of the 2021 Census in (a) England and Wales and (b) the United Kingdom, including the delayed Scottish Census.

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 6th of January is attached.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information his Department holds on the number of people who were employed in the automotive manufacturing sector in each month since June 2025 up to and including the most recent month for which figures are available.

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 12th January is attached.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information his Department holds on changes in the number of pawn shops in England and Wales since 2010.

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 8th January is attached.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 2 September 2025 to WPQ 69365, if he will publish a list of the changes made between the previous published version of the framework and the new version published on 16 June 2025.

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

We do not routinely publish the list of changes made to the document, as the most up to date version is the one we are measuring the performance of the function against.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, by how much they plan to reduce their Department's budget to help fund the digital ID scheme.

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

Digital Identity policy is in development, with a dedicated team inside the Cabinet Office working to develop the proposals.

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

We are inviting the public to have their say in the upcoming consultation as we develop a safe, secure, and inclusive system for the UK. No final decisions will be made until after the consultation.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many members of the Civil Service Pension Scheme are awaiting retirement quotations or commencement of pension payments beyond expected timescales.

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

The administration transferred to Capita on 1 December 2025 and the first payroll ran successfully in the same month.

At this time Capita has not provided this information to the Cabinet Office. The focus is on working with the Cabinet Office in order to resolve queries and delays and to move to a stable service as quickly as possible.

We acknowledge and recognise that there are delays and are working closely with Capita in order to move to the expected service levels as quickly as possible. This includes providing additional support to Capita, increasing staffing by c50% over and above the number that transferred from MyCSP. It is also prioritising urgent cases.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to reform public procurement.

Answered by Chris Ward - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Since coming into office, this Government has published a new, more ambitious, National Procurement Policy Statement (NPPS) setting out our vision for public procurement aligned with the priorities in the Plan for Change.

To support the implementation of the NPPS in central government we introduced new measures including an updated and streamlined social value model. This includes new ‘fair work’ criteria to support our Make Work Pay agenda, and measures to support SMEs and VCSEs such as the publication of direct spend targets and regular spot-checks to enforce 30-day payment requirements.

Building on these actions, in Summer 2025, this Government consulted on further procurement reforms that aim to deliver economic growth and support local communities by driving better procurement outcomes, supporting British businesses, and creating good quality jobs. We will set out our response to the consultation in due course.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 10 April 2025, to Question HL6032, on Arms Length Bodies, whether there is an updated list of the new Arms Length bodies that have been announced since July 2024.

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

Since July 2024, 10 Arms Length Bodies have been announced to deliver the manifesto the Government was elected on.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what requirements Ministers have to declare details of overseas visits in government transparency returns, when meeting external organisations which are not foreign governments, when undertaking official travel overseas.

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

Ministers' Overseas Travel and Meetings: Publication Guidance, is available on GOV.UK

It states that departments should include official meetings with external organisations held by ministers in the course of visits, including visits overseas (generally visits on their own are not included).

Such guidance has been in place for successive administrations.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the National Security Adviser (a) has briefed and (b) will brief the Intelligence and Security Committee on the sensitive security implications of the proposed new Chinese super-embassy in London.

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

The Government and the National Security Adviser maintain a regular and constructive dialogue with the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament (ISC) across the full range of national security and intelligence matters

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, who is next in the Nuclear Firing Chain after the Prime Minister; and under what circumstances is the Prime Ministerial Directive superseded.

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

As the honourable Member should know and in line with the policy under successive governments, the most sensitive operational details of our continuous at sea deterrent are obviously not disclosed publicly.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of the 2031 Census recording previous service in the UK armed forces.

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 lady’s Parliamentary Question of 13th January is attached.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 23 December 2025 (HL13096), who took the decision not to include any political activity information in Public Appointments Data Report 2024-25, published on 2 December 2025; and why page 41 of The Commissioner for Public Appointments Annual Report 2024-25, published on 17 December 2025, contained political activity data on regulated public appointments that was not listed in the Cabinet Office's Public Appointments Data Report 2024-25.

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

The decision not to include political activity data in the Public Appointments Data Report 2024-25 was taken by officials, due to a data collection issue which limited the data that was available.

The Commissioner for Public Appointments sources data from the Cabinet Office. As an independent regulator, he reports separately to the government and decided to include this limited data.

The data collection issue has been rectified, and this information will be considered for inclusion in the 2025-26 data report. In the meantime, information about the political activity of individual public appointees is available on the announcement page of the public appointment digital service.

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 (HL12789), whether they plan to encourage the Church of England to allow appeals in cases where Bishops refuse to extend a parish clergy's period in office.

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

Aside from the limited extensions permitted by legislation and set out in the previous response dated 18 December 2025 (HL12789), there is a mandatory retirement age of 70 prescribed by section 1(3) of the Ecclesiastical Offices (Age Limit) Measure 1975 which applies to all Archbishops, Bishops, Deans, Archdeacons, residentiary Canons, parish incumbents and curates. Any changes to this, including the introduction of an appeals process, would be for the Church of England to determine.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to review the operation of the honours system.

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

Every five years, a review is carried out of how honours are distributed across the different categories of activity in UK life (the Quinquennial Review). This review is guided both by priorities set by the Prime Minister and also changes to the population and sizes of workforces in each sector of the economy. The outcomes of the review are published in the three yearly report to Parliament on the Operation of the Honours System. The most recent report was published in 2023, and the next report is expected in due course.

The last review set out recommendations for the period from the Birthday honours round 2023 to the Birthday honours round 2028 (inclusive). The recommendations made in this review form part of the Honours Secretariat’s ongoing work programme over the next quinquennium to improve the operation of the honours system.

The next review period is due to begin shortly and with recommendations being implemented during the next quinquennium beginning at New Year 2029.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the policy paper entitled Outcome of the exploratory discussions on the possible participation of the United Kingdom in the European Union’s internal electricity market, published on 22 December 2025, whether he has made an estimate of the cost of the UK being a member of the EU electricity market.

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

An electricity agreement with the EU will cut the cost of trading electricity with the EU - this means lower wholesale costs and ultimately lower bills. To unlock these benefits, we are prepared to make an appropriate and proportionate financial contribution to support relevant costs, such as accessing specific agencies or databases required for market participation. Nothing has been agreed yet and we will work through the specific details in negotiations to ensure any contribution represents value for money for the UK taxpayer.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if the Government will launch an inquiry into vaccine harms and excess deaths during Covid-19 lockdowns.

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

Our thoughts are with the families of those who lost loved ones and those who continue to suffer because of the pandemic.

The UK Covid-19 Inquiry was established in 2022 under the Inquiries Act. The Government is fully committed to supporting the work of the Inquiry and to learning lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure the UK is better prepared for a future pandemic.

Module 2 of the Inquiry investigated matters including decision-making relating to lockdowns. The Inquiry published its report in November last year - the Government will consider the Inquiry’s findings and recommendations carefully before responding in full. Module 4 of the Inquiry is investigating a range of issues relating to the development of Covid-19 vaccines and the implementation of the vaccine rollout programme - the Inquiry is expected to publish its report in April 2026.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, further to the policy paper, Outcome of the exploratory discussions on the possible participation of the United Kingdom in the European Union’s internal electricity market, published on 22 December 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of dynamic alignment on the ability of the UK Government to deregulate.

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

An electricity agreement with the EU will cut the cost of trading electricity with the EU - this means lower wholesale costs and ultimately lower bills. To unlock these benefits we are prepared to take the pragmatic decision to align with EU rules in the national interest. The outcome from exploratory talks is clear that where we align with EU rules as part of any future electricity agreement there would be adaptations and phasing-in periods to ensure the rules work for the UKelectricity sector, as well as decision-shaping rights when new EU policies are made.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Downing Street press release, "Appointment of Axel Heitmueller as Head of the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit and Expert Adviser on Delivery", of 6 January 2026, what is (a) the time commitment expected of the role, (b) the expected end date of the appointment, (c) the monetary amount of his remuneration, and (d) his terms of reference.

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

Information about this role was published by the government on the new Direct Ministerial Appointments Announcements Portal: https://apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/direct-ministerial-appointments-announcements.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, further to the Cabinet Office, Government Procurement Card spend over £500 - September 2025, published 30 October 2025, what was the conference or event relating to the transactions (a) "MRS" for £696 and (b) FOAM CONVERSATION for £897.60.

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

The two transactions are (a) a payment to the Market Research Society in relation to the Behavioural Science Summit 2025, and (b) the procurement of audio equipment for the New Media Unit.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Cabinet Office uses the Global Disinformation Index service.

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

The Government Communication Service in the Cabinet Office does not use this service.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's document entitled Political Peerages - Citations, published on 10 December 2025, if he will publish Dame Ann Limb's curriculum vitae given to the House of Lords Appointments Commission for her appointment.

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

As a matter of policy we do not publish information relating to individuals' peerage nominations.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will take steps to reduce the number of government policy announcements.

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

The Government is committed to communicating clearly and effectively with the public about policies that affect their lives.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Agenda for the Specialised Committee on Citizens’ Rights meeting on 18 December 2025, if he will place in the Library a copy of the presentation by the3million and British in Europe.

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

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. The3million and British in Europe can be contacted directly to request any material shared at the meeting. The UK and the EU are committed to working cooperatively to ensure full and faithful implementation of the citizens’ rights part of the Withdrawal Agreement.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his Department’s priorities are for the next phase of negotiations on a food and drink agreement and carbon market linkage with the EU, as referenced in HCWS1114 on 1 December 2025; and what impact he expects these to have on UK consumers and businesses.

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

We are currently negotiating a Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement and an agreement to link our Emissions Trading Schemes (ETS) and will not give a running commentary on the talks. The SPS agreement will cut costs and red tape for British producers and retailers, reducing consumer prices and increasing choice. ETS linking is expected to facilitate a cheaper path to net zero, reducing long-term costs for businesses. Combined, these measures are set to add nearly £9 billion a year to the UK economy by 2040.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps are being taken by the Cabinet Office public appointments unit to improve processes on regulated public appointments following recent findings of breaches by the Governance Code by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

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

The Commissioner for Public Appointments’ 2024-25 Annual Report praised overall departmental compliance with the Governance Code. Out of 449 new regulated appointments made by UK government ministers in 2024-25, the Commissioner reported that five breaches of the Code were identified.

The Cabinet Office provides a range of training, support and guidance for departments to ensure compliance with the Code.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has had discussions with the European Commission on the EU's Buy European policy.

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

The Government routinely engages with the EU across a whole range of issues. Given the UK is one of Europe’s largest economies, and an integral part of existing supply chains, we have been clear with EU counterparts that the UK and EU should be working together to tackle the challenges we all face in terms of promoting economic security as well as boosting growth and productivity.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Ministers in his Department authorised the recall of National Archives papers due for release in December 2025 in relation to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

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

As a matter of routine and under the terms of the Public Records Act redactions are made to government documents where FOI exemptions that persist for historic records apply. Closures are approved by the Advisory Council on National Records and Archives before transfer to The National Archives. Any release is subject to an extensive review process, including engaging expert stakeholders and no list should be considered final until it is released to the public.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish FOI response FOI2025/18072, of 5 December 2025.

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

I refer the Hon Member to the answer given in UIN 99528.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's press release entitled WPP appointed to be UK Government’s lead media agency, published on 22 December 2025, whether the framework in the press release is Crown Commercial Services RM6364 framework, Lot 1: Media Strategy, Planning and Buying.

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

Yes, the referenced press release is in relation to Crown Commercial Services RM6364 framework, Lot 1: Media Strategy, Planning and Buying.

Found: attendance: Simon Burton, Clerk of the Parliaments (virtual); Roger Hargreaves, Director, Cabinet Office

Found: As your letter notes, and the Minister for the Cabinet Office has previously stated, the

Found: policy, and labour markets and a former senior civil servant with experience in the Treasury, Cabinet Office

Found: education with DfE and devolved administrations;  Public-sector leadership and integrity with the Cabinet Office

Found: Establish Cross Departmental Coordination DBT could play a convening role with DWP, DHSC, the Cabinet Office

Found: Mandate a Policy Review for the Public Sector: Recommend that the Minister for the Cabinet Office and

Found: structures are fragmented and so we advocate either a coherence within a single department (Cabinet Office

Found: framework means maintaining the 11 Consultation on the NSI Act Notifiable Acquisition Regulations, Cabinet Office

Found: Current structures are fragmented and so we advocate either a coherence within a single department (Cabinet Office

Found: as a priority within that, not just by the Department for Business and Trade but also by the Cabinet Office

Found: and media policy), ● CMA (DMCCA enforcement), ● Ofcom (Online Safety Act context), ● and the Cabinet Office

Found: cross-government authority: A Minister for Small Business Digitalisation and Productivity, ideally in the Cabinet Office

Found: Cover how the Department for Business and Trade, working with DfT, Cabinet Office and the Treasury,

Found: sector pipelines, starting within 12 months. [10][15] 7.2 Regulatory service standards (Owner: Cabinet Office

Found: We could have a directorate inside the Home Office or even possibly the Cabinet Office.

Found: [3][1] HMT / Cabinet Office 8.

Found: We have the usual ministerial or Cabinet Office committees that we will use for escalation, such as

Found: MyCSP administers the Scheme on behalf of the Cabinet Office under a contract that was first agreed

Found: MyCSP administers the Scheme on behalf of the Cabinet Office under a contract that was first agreed

Found: MyCSP administers the Scheme on behalf of the Cabinet Office under a contract that was first agreed

Found: MyCSP administers the Scheme on behalf of the Cabinet Office under a contract that was first agreed

Found: MyCSP administers the Scheme on behalf of the Cabinet Office under a contract that was first agreed

Found: MyCSP administers the Scheme on behalf of the Cabinet Office under a contract that was first agreed

Found: Cabinet Office Minister Minoru Kiuchi (responsible for IP and AI strategy) announced that the government

Found: Integrate high-value datasets: Establish a central authority (e.g., within the Cabinet Office or PSFA

Found: To Cabinet Office: How will GovS 013 and the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill strengthen

Found: Cross-government assurance standard for fraud and error analytics 2.1 Scope and applicability 2.1.1 The Cabinet Office

Found: Current State of Fraud and Error in Public Spending 2.1 Scale of the Problem According to the Cabinet Office

Found: . 3 The Department for Work and Pensions is the UK’s largest public service department. 4 The Cabinet Office

Found: Nothing material has changed since the 2019 “thought paper” when the Cabinet Office estimated their

Found: piece around accountability, which is a joint effort between ourselves, the Treasury and the Cabinet Office

Found: As the Minister for the Cabinet Office stated in his speech on the 27 August, the Government will consider

Found: 2025 Advertising strategy for the campaign for The Pensions Regulator Chair: We engaged with the Cabinet Office

Found: I am copying this letter to the Minister for the Cabinet Office, the Minister of State for Care, and

Found: Committee, I am consulting you, as Chair, on the proposed selection process in line with the Cabinet Office

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason her department collects data on (a) race and (b) ethnicity and c) religion from benefit claimants.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The purpose of collecting race and ethnicity data is because it they are protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.

All public bodies have a requirement under the Public Sector Equality Duty to pay due regard to the impacts of policies to those who share protected characteristics set out in the Equality Act.

To do so requires that meaningful data be collected in a harmonised form, as set out by the Cabinet Office. Claimant declarations of their protected characteristics are optional, and not mandatory.

Data collected on protected characteristics is solely used for analytical and statistical purposes in aggregate form and has no part in decisions relating to benefit claims.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many staff work for the independent commission on adult social care, and where that commission is based.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

No commissioners have been appointed. Baroness Louise Casey of Blackstock chairs the Independent Commission into adult social care, alongside a dedicated secretariat team.

Baroness Casey and the Commission’s secretariat are based in the Cabinet Office. The secretariat has a total of ten officials, eight are employed by the Department of Health and Social Care, and two by the Cabinet Office. One external individual has been hired as contingent labour to support the work of the Commission’s secretariat. There are a further four officials working in the Commission’s sponsorship function based in the Department of Health and Social Care.

As the Commission is independent, the secretariat may expand as it carries out its work and as Baroness Casey considers what further skills and expertise she needs.

For 2025/26, the Department of Health and Social Care indicatively made available £2.9 million to support the Commission’s work and continue to keep the budget under review. As the Commission is independent, they will be responsible for reporting on their financial expenditure.

The independence of the Commission means the Department of Health and Social Care does not track the number of meetings the Commission has held. Engagement decisions are for Baroness Casey and her team to decide. The Commission has set out that it has met with over 350 people including those drawing on care and supporting, national organisations and delivery or provider organisations.

Details about how to engage with the Commission, including via the portal, are available on its website in an online-only format.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the budget for the first phase of the independent commission into adult social care.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

No commissioners have been appointed. Baroness Louise Casey of Blackstock chairs the Independent Commission into adult social care, alongside a dedicated secretariat team.

Baroness Casey and the Commission’s secretariat are based in the Cabinet Office. The secretariat has a total of ten officials, eight are employed by the Department of Health and Social Care, and two by the Cabinet Office. One external individual has been hired as contingent labour to support the work of the Commission’s secretariat. There are a further four officials working in the Commission’s sponsorship function based in the Department of Health and Social Care.

As the Commission is independent, the secretariat may expand as it carries out its work and as Baroness Casey considers what further skills and expertise she needs.

For 2025/26, the Department of Health and Social Care indicatively made available £2.9 million to support the Commission’s work and continue to keep the budget under review. As the Commission is independent, they will be responsible for reporting on their financial expenditure.

The independence of the Commission means the Department of Health and Social Care does not track the number of meetings the Commission has held. Engagement decisions are for Baroness Casey and her team to decide. The Commission has set out that it has met with over 350 people including those drawing on care and supporting, national organisations and delivery or provider organisations.

Details about how to engage with the Commission, including via the portal, are available on its website in an online-only format.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many external stakeholder meetings the independent commission on adult social care has had since April.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

No commissioners have been appointed. Baroness Louise Casey of Blackstock chairs the Independent Commission into adult social care, alongside a dedicated secretariat team.

Baroness Casey and the Commission’s secretariat are based in the Cabinet Office. The secretariat has a total of ten officials, eight are employed by the Department of Health and Social Care, and two by the Cabinet Office. One external individual has been hired as contingent labour to support the work of the Commission’s secretariat. There are a further four officials working in the Commission’s sponsorship function based in the Department of Health and Social Care.

As the Commission is independent, the secretariat may expand as it carries out its work and as Baroness Casey considers what further skills and expertise she needs.

For 2025/26, the Department of Health and Social Care indicatively made available £2.9 million to support the Commission’s work and continue to keep the budget under review. As the Commission is independent, they will be responsible for reporting on their financial expenditure.

The independence of the Commission means the Department of Health and Social Care does not track the number of meetings the Commission has held. Engagement decisions are for Baroness Casey and her team to decide. The Commission has set out that it has met with over 350 people including those drawing on care and supporting, national organisations and delivery or provider organisations.

Details about how to engage with the Commission, including via the portal, are available on its website in an online-only format.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many commissioners have been appointed to the independent commission on adult social care.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

No commissioners have been appointed. Baroness Louise Casey of Blackstock chairs the Independent Commission into adult social care, alongside a dedicated secretariat team.

Baroness Casey and the Commission’s secretariat are based in the Cabinet Office. The secretariat has a total of ten officials, eight are employed by the Department of Health and Social Care, and two by the Cabinet Office. One external individual has been hired as contingent labour to support the work of the Commission’s secretariat. There are a further four officials working in the Commission’s sponsorship function based in the Department of Health and Social Care.

As the Commission is independent, the secretariat may expand as it carries out its work and as Baroness Casey considers what further skills and expertise she needs.

For 2025/26, the Department of Health and Social Care indicatively made available £2.9 million to support the Commission’s work and continue to keep the budget under review. As the Commission is independent, they will be responsible for reporting on their financial expenditure.

The independence of the Commission means the Department of Health and Social Care does not track the number of meetings the Commission has held. Engagement decisions are for Baroness Casey and her team to decide. The Commission has set out that it has met with over 350 people including those drawing on care and supporting, national organisations and delivery or provider organisations.

Details about how to engage with the Commission, including via the portal, are available on its website in an online-only format.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, by how much they plan to reduce their Department's budget to help fund the digital ID scheme.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Digital Identity policy is in development, with a dedicated team inside the Cabinet Office working to develop the proposals.

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

We are inviting the public to have their say in the upcoming consultation as we develop a safe, secure, and inclusive system for the UK. No final decisions will be made until after the consultation.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, by how much they plan to reduce their Department's budget to help fund the digital ID scheme.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Digital Identity policy is in development, with a dedicated team inside the Cabinet Office working to develop the proposals.

Costs in this Spending Review period will be met within the existing Spending Review settlements. We are inviting the public to have their say in the upcoming consultation as we develop a safe, secure, and inclusive system for the UK. No final decisions will be made until after the consultation.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, by how much they plan to reduce their Department's budget to help fund the digital ID scheme.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The scope of the digital identification scheme is still in development, therefore detailed design, implementation, and operational information is not available.

The Cabinet Office will soon launch a public consultation to give everyone the opportunity to learn more and share their views.

Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, by how much they plan to reduce their Department's budget to help fund the digital ID scheme.

Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)

Digital identity policy is in development, with a dedicated team inside the Cabinet Office working to develop the proposals.

Costs in this spending review period will be met within the existing spending review settlements.

We are inviting the public to have their say in the upcoming consultation as we develop a safe, secure, and inclusive system for the UK. No final decisions will be made until after the consultation.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, by how much they plan to reduce their Department's budget to help fund the digital ID scheme.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Digital Identity policy is in development, with a dedicated team inside the Cabinet Office working to develop the proposals.

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

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, by how much they plan to reduce their Department's budget to help fund the digital ID scheme.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Delivery of the National Digital ID scheme is currently being led by the Cabinet Office, with input from Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the Home Office and other government departments.

The Cabinet Office, in collaboration with the Home Office and other government departments, is currently in the process of working through the policy and design decisions that will underpin the Digital ID. Whilst this activity is underway, it is not currently possible to finalise cost estimations and the impact these will have on the Home Office’s budget.

The Cabinet Office will launch a public consultation and has already started engaging key groups. The eventual total cost will also depend on the outcomes of this exercise.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, by how much they plan to reduce their Department's budget to help fund the digital ID scheme.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Digital Identity policy is in development, with a dedicated team inside the Cabinet Office working to develop the proposals. Costs in this Spending Review period will be met within the existing Spending Review settlements. We are inviting the public to have their say in the upcoming consultation as we develop a safe, secure, and inclusive system for the UK. No final decisions will be made until after the consultation.

Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Solicitor General, by how much they plan to reduce their Department's budget to help fund the digital ID scheme.

Answered by Ellie Reeves - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)

Digital Identity policy is in development, with a dedicated team inside the Cabinet Office working to develop the proposals.

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

We are inviting the public to have their say in the upcoming consultation as we develop a safe, secure, and inclusive system for the UK. No final decisions will be made until after the consultation.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, by how much they plan to reduce their Department's budget to help fund the digital ID scheme.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

Digital Identity policy is in development, with a dedicated team inside the Cabinet Office working to develop the proposals.

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

We are inviting the public to have their say in the upcoming consultation as we develop a safe, secure, and inclusive system for the UK. No final decisions will be made until after the consultation.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, by how much they plan to reduce their Department's budget to help fund the digital ID scheme.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Cabinet Office are inviting the public to have their say in the upcoming consultation as we develop a safe, secure, and inclusive system for the UK. No final decisions will be made until after the consultation, including the level of any contribution from the Department for Business and Trade’s budgets towards the scheme.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, by how much they plan to reduce their Department's budget to help fund the digital ID scheme.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

Digital Identity policy is in development, with a dedicated team inside the Cabinet Office working to develop the proposals.

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

We are inviting the public to have their say in the upcoming consultation as we develop a safe, secure, and inclusive system for the UK. No final decisions will be made until after the consultation.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, by how much they plan to reduce their Department's budget to help fund the digital ID scheme.

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

Digital Identity policy is in development, with a dedicated team inside the Cabinet Office working to develop the proposals.

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

We are inviting the public to have their say in the upcoming consultation as we develop a safe, secure, and inclusive system for the UK. No final decisions will be made until after the consultation.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, by how much they plan to reduce their Department's budget to help fund the digital ID scheme.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Digital Identity policy is in development, with a dedicated team inside the Cabinet Office working to develop the proposals. Costs in this Spending Review period will be met within the existing Spending Review settlements.

We are inviting the public to have their say in the upcoming consultation as we develop a safe, secure, and inclusive system for the UK. No final decisions will be made until after the consultation.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, by how much they plan to reduce their Department's budget to help fund the digital ID scheme.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

Digital Identity policy is in development, with a dedicated team inside the Cabinet Office working to develop the proposals.

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

We are inviting the public to have their say in the upcoming consultation as we develop a safe, secure, and inclusive system for the UK. No final decisions will be made until after the consultation.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Written Statement of 1 December 2025 on UK–EU Relations, HCWS1114, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for UK national security of not reaching agreement on enhanced UK participation in the SAFE instrument; and what steps her Department is taking to help mitigate capability and interoperability gaps with EU partners.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The matters raised by the Rt Hon Member are primarily for the Cabinet Office who were responsible for the written statement to which her questions refer, and the Ministry of Defence who are the responsible department for defence industrial matters.

We however continue to deepen and strengthen our cooperation with the EU on a range of related matters - including in tackling hybrid threats - via our new Security and Defence Partnership. Our relationships through NATO of course remain the bedrock of our security and defence.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to HCWS1114 on 1 December 2025, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of limiting UK defence industrial content to 35 per cent of SAFE-funded projects on (a) sovereign capability, (b) export competitiveness and (c) supply-chain resilience across the UK defence sector.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The matters raised by the Rt Hon Member are primarily for the Cabinet Office who were responsible for the written statement to which her questions refer, and the Ministry of Defence who are the responsible department for defence industrial matters.

We however continue to deepen and strengthen our cooperation with the EU on a range of related matters - including in tackling hybrid threats - via our new Security and Defence Partnership. Our relationships through NATO of course remain the bedrock of our security and defence.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Security and Defence Partnership outlined in HCWS1114 on 1 December 2025, how the Government intends to ensure that cooperation on tackling hybrid threats, supporting Ukraine, and promoting stability in the Western Balkans will be maintained and strengthened without a bilateral SAFE agreement.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The matters raised by the Rt Hon Member are primarily for the Cabinet Office who were responsible for the written statement to which her questions refer, and the Ministry of Defence who are the responsible department for defence industrial matters.

We however continue to deepen and strengthen our cooperation with the EU on a range of related matters - including in tackling hybrid threats - via our new Security and Defence Partnership. Our relationships through NATO of course remain the bedrock of our security and defence.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with NATO allies on ensuring that UK–EU defence cooperation, including through the Security and Defence Partnership referenced in HCWS1114 on 1 December 2025, complements NATO planning, procurement and capability development.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The matters raised by the Rt Hon Member are primarily for the Cabinet Office who were responsible for the written statement to which her questions refer, and the Ministry of Defence who are the responsible department for defence industrial matters.

We however continue to deepen and strengthen our cooperation with the EU on a range of related matters - including in tackling hybrid threats - via our new Security and Defence Partnership. Our relationships through NATO of course remain the bedrock of our security and defence.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, by how much they plan to reduce their Department's budget to help fund the digital ID scheme.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

Digital Identity policy is in development, with a dedicated team inside the Cabinet Office working to develop the proposals.

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

We are inviting the public to have their say in the upcoming consultation as we develop a safe, secure, and inclusive system for the UK. No final decisions will be made until after the consultation.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, by how much they plan to reduce their Department's budget to help fund the digital ID scheme.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Digital Identity policy is in development, with a dedicated team inside the Cabinet Office working to develop the proposals.

Costs in this Spending Review period will be met within the existing Spending Review settlements. We will draw on a shared, cross‑government approach when determining how to help meet any new funding requirements.

We are inviting the public to have their say in the upcoming consultation as we develop a safe, secure, and inclusive system for the UK. No final decisions will be made until after the consultation.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 2 December 2025, to Question 93747, on Cabinet Office: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution, what the date, title, location and purpose of the cross-government event related to the public expenditure on TasteThatLove are.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

See answer to WPQ 93747. The purpose of the event was to encourage collaboration between government departments, academia and the private sector.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy to use his Best Value powers to stop local authorities boycotting or divesting in companies based in, or which trade with, Israel.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Cabinet Office Procurement Policy Note 01/16 remains in force which prohibits procurement boycotts by public authorities against Israeli firms and firms which trade with Israel, unless formal government sanctions are in place Under the Local Government Act 1999, local authorities have a statutory Best Value duty to secure continuous improvement in how they exercise their functions, having regard to economy, efficiency, and effectiveness. The Secretary of State may intervene where there is significant, systemic, and extensive failure to meet this duty, based on a holistic assessment of all relevant information. The government has published guidance for local authorities on meeting the Best Value duty and on intervention.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, for what reason employment and wage costs have increased at the Intellectual Property Office since April 2017.

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

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is an executive agency of the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), with delegated responsibility for operational matters including salaries. Salary costs have increased since 2017 due to two main factors. Headcount has increased over this period, driven both by a sustained increase in demand for IP Services plus investment in a Transformation programme aimed at delivering better digital services to our customers and internal frontline staff. The second reason is the application of the annual pay awards. IPO complies fully with the Cabinet Office annual pay remit guidance and annual pay cases are approved by HMT through a rigorous business case process.

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Found: review of ALBs A cross-government review of ALBs, including those in DCMS, was launched by the Cabinet Office

Found: >Visit to Invictus Games 2025 in Canada - To note as flights and accommodation were booked in cabinet office

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Found: years 2024-25 laying date Armed Forces Retired Pay, Pensions etc 18/07/2024 N/A Not yet laid Cabinet Office

Found: 3 June 2025 it was announced responsibility for government cyber security is moved from the Cabinet Office

Found: Location Removed 11750/10 Dame Barbara Hepworth Two Opposing Forms; Opposing Forms Deinstalled from Cabinet Office

Found: Opposing Forms; Opposing Forms

Found: Works of art removed from Cabinet Office and His Majesty’s Treasury from 4 July 2024 until 13 January

Found: Vendor 05/03/2025 Faststream - Full Cost Desnz - Corporate Services - Desnz - Human Resources Cabinet Office

Found: Corporate Services - Desnz - Human Resources

Found: Corporate Services - Desnz - Human Resources

Found: Vendor 28/02/2025 Faststream - Full Cost Desnz - Corporate Services - Desnz - Human Resources Cabinet Office

Found: 2024 Recruitment Advice And Services Ics - Integrated Corporate Services - Ics - Human Resources Cabinet Office

Found: Integrated Corporate Services - Ics - Human Resources

Found: Corporate Services - Desnz - Legal Services

Found: Legal Opinion & Parliamentary Counsel Service Desnz - Corporate Services - Desnz - Legal Services Cabinet Office

Found: & Supply - Desnz - Strategy Directorate

Found: Non Procurement Spend Desnz - Energy Markets & Supply - Desnz - Strategy Directorate Cabinet Office 633037

Found: Integrated Corporate Services - Ics - Human Resources

Found: 2025 Recruitment Advice And Services Ics - Integrated Corporate Services - Ics - Human Resources Cabinet Office

Found: Integrated Corporate Services - Ics - Operations

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Found: Corporate Services - Desnz - Human Resources

Found: 2025 Training And Development Expenditure Desnz - Corporate Services - Desnz - Human Resources Cabinet Office

Found: Integrated Corporate Services - Ics - Human Resources

Found: 2025 Recruitment Advice And Services Ics - Integrated Corporate Services - Ics - Human Resources Cabinet Office

Found: ANALYTICAL RESPONSE IMPROVEMENT AND SUPPORT

Found: Cabinet Office: 2.1. Office of the Parliamentary Counsel; 2.2.

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Found: InformationCommand Paper No: 1487IntroductionThis explanatory memorandum has been prepared by the Cabinet Office

Found: Page 17 28 Building Research Establishment (2021) 'The Cost of Poor Housing in England' 29 Cabinet Office

Found: down barriers to opportunity: this new fuel poverty strategy and our Child Poverty Strategy29 29 Cabinet Office

Found: Page 17 28 Building Research Establishment (2021) 'The Cost of Poor Housing in England' 29 Cabinet Office

Found: government to embed international education into the priorities of departments including DSIT, Cabinet Office

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Found: ground ceremony today, January 16, led by Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves, together with Cabinet Office

Found: reporting methods used in MOD's Annual Report and Accounts. note 63 This table uses standard Cabinet Office

Found: Housing, Communities & Local Government PINS 01/12/2025 Specialist Technical Support People Unit CABINET OFFICE

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Found: career choice and maintaining permissions for permanent recruitment from HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office

Found: career choice and maintaining permissions for permanent recruitment from HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office

Found: ground ceremony today, January 16, led by Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves, together with Cabinet Office

Found: governance requirements as the Judicial Office under Managing Public Money principles issued by the Cabinet Office

Found: There is full compliance with all Ministerial and Cabinet Office spending controls and approvals procedures

Found: to support the running costs for the Social Security Chamber. 4.200 0.000 4.200 Transfer from Cabinet Office

Found: Scotland and other UK Government departments will be covered by guidance to be issued by the Cabinet Office

Found: Cabinet Office Leadership ...........................................................................

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Found: Douglas Alexander MP Minister of State for Trade Policy and Economic Security and Minister at the Cabinet Office

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Found: of the Senedd will wish to be aware that I have given consent to the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office

Found: Welsh Government and Honours Although the UK Honours process is managed by the Cabinet Office in London

Found: Recommendation 2: Cabinet Office leadership for whole-system civil emergencies in the UK.