Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will require members of intelligence agencies transferring to ministerial private offices to declare confidentially to those ministers the (i) fact that they have previously served in an intelligence agency and (ii) name of that intelligence agency.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
As has been the policy of successive governments, the government does not comment on matters relating to the intelligence agencies.
Asked by: Luke Akehurst (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what comparative assessment he has made of the resilience of a broadcast-based digital terrestrial television platform with an internet-only service during (a) widespread power outages, (b) cyber incidents, and (c) other emergencies; and what contingency plans would maintain universal access to public service broadcasting during such events.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
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.
Asked by: Abtisam Mohamed (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what part of the allocated 2026-27 spend for the Integrated Security Fund will go towards the Gender and National Security Portfolio.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
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.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 26 November 2025 to Question 92002 on UK Integrated Security Fund: Equality, whether spending on transgender equality qualifies as a gender objective for the purposes of the General Equality and Social Inclusion markers.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
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.
Asked by: Alex Ballinger (Labour - Halesowen)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will set out the basis for determining the funding level of the UK Integrated Security Fund multi-year allocations for (a) conflict prevention and (b) Women, Peace and Security, including the advice and impact assessment she received; and whether it remains her policy to implement conflict prevention programmes.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
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.
Asked by: Alex Ballinger (Labour - Halesowen)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment his Department made of the potential impact of the level of conflict prevention on UK national security when determining the of the multi-year level of funding for the UK Integrated Security Fund; and for what reason was the level of prioritisation for conflict prevention so determined.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
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.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 19 February 2026 to Question 111928 on Taxis: Members and Ministers, whether he has issued guidance on the use of London Electric Vehicle Company taxis by (i) Ministers and (ii) hon. Members.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
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.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 19 November 2025 to Question 90730 on Ministers: Official Cars, whether the figures provided include Government Car Service transport for civil servants.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
I refer the Rt Hon Member to my answer on 5th November 2025 (PQ 86664).
Asked by: Lord Pack (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to paragraph 38 of the guidance Using non-corporate communication channels (e.g. WhatsApp, private email, SMS) for government business, published on 30 March 2023, whether they completed the review of that guidance by 31 December 2025; and when they plan to publish any revisions to that guidance.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
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.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of lifting the £10,000 limit on interest free loans for pensioners impacted by delays to the Civil Service Pension scheme administration.
Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
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.