Cabinet Office

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

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

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

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

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

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 This data can not be published and remains confidential.

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

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

I refer the Hon Member to Question 113587.

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

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

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

Kickstarting Economic Growth - Chancellor of the Exchequer

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

Safer Streets - Secretary of State for the Home Department

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

No.

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

Staff are required to dress appropriately for their roles.

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

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

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

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

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

The following correction has been issued to Hansard:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A response has been issued here 107963.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 23rd February is attached.

This government has a robust set of security policies and guidance to ensure our information is processed securely, which is kept under constant consideration.

As part of this government’s recent commitment to raise information security standards, we plan to examine whether the current codes of conduct and guidance relating to the use of non-corporate communication channels remain effective, given the changing ways in which we use modern technology in government.

The Government understands the importance of everyone being able to access information in times of national emergency. Both television and radio play a vital role in providing such access for a range of different emergency scenarios, including scenarios where other communications may be disrupted.

The BBC has specific requirements under its Framework Agreement in relation to broadcast security and resilience, and works closely with DCMS in ensuring its networks are able to support emergency communications in a range of scenarios including a national power outage and cyber attacks.

The Government, led by DCMS, is looking into the future of TV distribution and is considering a range of relevant factors, including the future resilience requirements for broadcast networks. It is important that audiences continue to receive consistent levels of service regardless of how they receive their television, and ensuring that this can happen will be a priority for the project.

The Cabinet Office provides comprehensive security guidance to ministers on the protection of sensitive information, which includes advice for undertaking travel. These overarching security measures apply to all modes of transport. The security and provision of guidance to Hon Members is a matter for the House Authorities and the Parliamentary Security Department.

Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) markers are based on two pillars – 1) Gender Equality and 2) Social Inclusion. The Integrated Security Fund (ISF) uses GESI markers to support the promotion of GESI across ISF programming. It is based on the recognition that gender is one of multiple factors of marginalisation, and that this can be exacerbated by hostile actors. Other characteristics that can similarly be targeted include, but are not limited to, age, disability status, race or sexual orientation.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to my answer on 5th November 2025 (PQ 86664).

As has been the policy of successive governments, the government does not comment on matters relating to the intelligence agencies.

The Integrated Security Fund (ISF) will narrow its focus towards the UK’s top national security priorities, as set out in the Written Ministerial Statement of 10 February 2026. This includes tackling five key threat areas (Russia; Iran & its proxies; threats emanating from the Asia Pacific region; Serious & Organised Crime; and Terrorism) and building UK sovereign capabilities in four other areas (Cyber & Tech, Biosecurity, Counter State & Hybrid Threats and Economic Security). ISF allocations to each of these areas were driven by an assessment of the UK’s most acute national security threats and programmes’ alignment with the ISF’s principles (agility, integration, high risk appetite and catalytic effect).

The ISF will also continue to deliver conflict and instability programming, where there is a direct link to UK national security. ISF teams are also expected to continue to mainstream gender throughout their work across the ISF’s priorities, including through projects which focus specifically on gender and social inclusion.

The Integrated Security Fund (ISF) will narrow its focus towards the UK’s top national security priorities, as set out in the Written Ministerial Statement of 10 February 2026. This includes tackling five key threat areas (Russia; Iran & its proxies; threats emanating from the Asia Pacific region; Serious & Organised Crime; and Terrorism) and building UK sovereign capabilities in four other areas (Cyber & Tech, Biosecurity, Counter State & Hybrid Threats and Economic Security). ISF allocations to each of these areas were driven by an assessment of the UK’s most acute national security threats and programmes’ alignment with the ISF’s principles (agility, integration, high risk appetite and catalytic effect).

The ISF will also continue to deliver conflict and instability programming, where there is a direct link to UK national security. ISF teams are also expected to continue to mainstream gender throughout their work across the ISF’s priorities, including through projects which focus specifically on gender and social inclusion.

The decrease in the Integrated Security Fund’s (ISF) national security programming budget means that we need to focus resources on the highest priority threats to national security, as set out in the Written Ministerial Statement on 10 February. The Government has therefore taken the decision to close the standalone Gender and National Security (GNS) portfolio in 2026/27.

The ISF will continue to provide £0.8m each year to fund the Women, Peace and Security Helpdesk, which forms part of the GNS portfolio this year. The Helpdesk provides high-impact technical and advisory support to teams across Government, including the ISF. This supports delivery of gender-sensitive activity aligned to UK national security priorities.

Teams across government delivering ISF programming are also expected to continue to mainstream gender throughout their work, including through projects which specifically address gender and social inclusion.

They are also expected to monitor the gender and social inclusion impacts of their activity and in line with the Public Sector Equality Duty obligations, programmes will consider the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations across protected characteristics.

I refer the Noble Lady to the Prime Minister’s letter to the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards of 12 November which states that in Autumn 2024 the Prime Minister agreed to recuse himself from decisions relating to the Football Governance Bill.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided by the Rt. Hon. Member for Redcar to 95650, which was answered on 9th December.

In accordance with data protection regulations, we do not provide information about candidates in Civil Service recruitment processes.