Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, in light of the consultation on digital ID, what steps they will take to ensure that the consultation mechanism and information are made available to all communities, including both inner city and rural areas.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government has launched a national conversation to ensure the digital ID system is shaped by all communities.

The digital ID consultation will involve 8 weeks of open engagement – running from 10 March to 5 May - where anyone who wants to take part can share their views in ways that work for them. You can do this online via an online form, by email or by post.

We will also support local conversations and events across the UK to spread awareness and encourage participation. This includes roadshows, roundtables, as well as resources such as a ‘workshop in a box’ to help communities run their own discussions in ways that work for them. To request materials for ‘workshop in a box’, please email workshop@digitalid.cabinetoffice.gov.uk.

After the 8-week open engagement period, we will bring together a broadly representative group of 100-120 people from across the UK to take part in a more in-depth deliberative engagement process.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure that those who are regarded as digitally excluded are informed of the consultation on digital ID.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government has launched a national conversation to ensure the digital ID system is shaped by all communities.

The digital ID consultation will involve 8 weeks of open engagement – running from 10 March to 5 May - where anyone who wants to take part can share their views in ways that work for them. You can do this online via an online form, by email or by post.

We will also support local conversations and events across the UK to spread awareness and encourage participation. This includes roadshows, roundtables, as well as resources such as a ‘workshop in a box’ to help communities run their own discussions in ways that work for them. To request materials for ‘workshop in a box’, please email workshop@digitalid.cabinetoffice.gov.uk.

After the 8-week open engagement period, we will bring together a broadly representative group of 100-120 people from across the UK to take part in a more in-depth deliberative engagement process.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, in light of the consultation on digital ID, whether they will make printed information about the consultation available in the premises of public services, including education, local authority and health service premises.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government has launched a national conversation to ensure the digital ID system is shaped by all communities.

The digital ID consultation will involve 8 weeks of open engagement – running from 10 March to 5 May - where anyone who wants to take part can share their views in ways that work for them. You can do this online via an online form, by email or by post.

We will also support local conversations and events across the UK to spread awareness and encourage participation. This includes roadshows, roundtables, as well as resources such as a ‘workshop in a box’ to help communities run their own discussions in ways that work for them. To request materials for ‘workshop in a box’, please email workshop@digitalid.cabinetoffice.gov.uk.

After the 8-week open engagement period, we will bring together a broadly representative group of 100-120 people from across the UK to take part in a more in-depth deliberative engagement process.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to take steps to make the individuals who signed the House of Commons petition "Do not introduce Digital ID cards" aware of their ability to contribute to the consultation on digital ID.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The digital ID consultation, running from 10 March to 5 May, is open to all members of the public, including those who expressed interest via the House of Commons petition. We have launched a comprehensive communications campaign to ensure broad awareness. Members of the public can contribute via the GOV.UK survey, email or post.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what safeguards will be put in place to protect the right to refuse a digital ID.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

We want people to have the option to use the digital ID to make their lives easier. There will be no legal obligation for people to have or present the national digital ID. If someone does not want a digital ID they will not have to get it.

Legislation on the digital ID will be subject to Parliamentary scrutiny in the usual way. Any changes to the scope of this legislation after it passes would need further parliamentary scrutiny.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish applications made by Lord Mandelson to the Advisory Committee to Business Appointments between May 2010 and May 2012.

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

Information about historic Business Application Rules applications can be found on GOV.UK.

The 2010-2011 Advisory Committee to Business Appointments Annual Report can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7d965340f0b65084e76188/Twelfth_Annual_Report_2010-2011.pdf, and the 2011-2012 Annual Report can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a74e389ed915d3c7d528bcd/ACOBA_Thirteenth_Annual_Report_2011-12.pdf

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the legal mechanisms to join Erasmus will be subject to the Treaty ratification process under Part 2 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010.

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

As was the case with our association to Horizon under the previous Government, the legal mechanism to associate to the Erasmus+ programme will not be subject to the treaty ratification process set out in Part 2 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010. Protocol I to the UK-EU Trade Agreement will be amended by a decision of the UK-EU Specialised Committee on Participation in Union Programmes. A decision to amend the Protocol does not require ratification. The power to amend Protocol I to add new programmes is already delegated to this committee. The decision will come into force on adoption by the Committee. Once the Specialised Committee decision is adopted, this will be made publicly available on gov.uk.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether special advisers provided advice to the Prime Minister on the appointment of the new Cabinet Secretary.

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

As set out in the GOV.uk announcement of the Cabinet Secretary appointment. “the Prime Minister and the First Civil Service Commissioner agreed a process to appoint a new Cabinet Secretary”.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on carers, particularly women, of the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme paying awards for past care directly to the estate of the deceased, in particular in relation to Articles 4, 5, 6, 8 and 14 of the Human Rights Act 1998.

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

The Care award is provided to people making a claim as an infected person or as their estate representative. A living infected person receiving compensation can take a decision on whether all or some of this award should be passed to an affected person. Care awards paid to infected people can therefore be paid directly to affected people on the request of an infected person.

An executor of a deceased infected person's estate will be responsible for administering the estate as per the wishes of the infected person.

The Cabinet Office has carried out analysis under the Public Sector Equality Duty for all regulations made to establish the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme. The most recent analysis was published in October and can be viewed here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2025/9780348276077/pdfs/ukdsipes_9780348276077_en_001.pdf.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what criteria or formula they used to determine the awards of £10,000 or £15,000 for injury claims for unethical research under the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme.

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

Additional Autonomy awards are available through the compensation scheme’s supplementary route to recognise the suffering of victims subjected to unethical research practices.

The current values of both Unethical Research awards are in line with the recommendations Sir Robert Francis KC made to the Government in August 2024. The Inquiry, in its Additional Report, made a set of recommendations about the Unethical Research awards, including that the Minister for the Cabinet Office consider whether the award values be increased.

In the consultation, we sought views on what approach the Government could take to determine an appropriate value of the Unethical Research award. The consultation closed on 22nd January, and the Government will respond within 12 weeks of the closing date.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the status of Morgan McSweeny's phone and the retention of electronic communications relating to government business contained on it; and whether that phone was (1) lost, or (2) stolen.

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

The former Chief of Staff’s phone was stolen, and he reported it at the time to the police and relevant teams in No10. This was before the Humble Address that was passed in February. The Government is committed to complying with the Humble Address in full, while continuing to support the Metropolitan Police with their investigation. I refer the Hon Member to the statement provided by the Metropolitan Police on 25 March and publication of the transcript confirming that the theft was reported.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Tim Allan will receive a severance payment following his departure from Government as Director of Communications.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

It is a longstanding policy not to comment on individuals. The Model Contract for Special Advisers is published online and details the specific circumstances in which severance is payable.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme, what steps they plan to take to mitigate the impact on carers as individuals specifically in relation to the loss of pensions, career damage and loss of family light.

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

The Infected Blood Compensation Scheme compensates for the cost of care incurred by someone’s infection in two ways.

A Care award is paid to the infected person as part of their overall compensation claim. A living infected person receiving this compensation can take a decision on whether all or some of this award should be passed to an affected person. An executor of a deceased infected person's estate will be responsible for administering the estate as per the wishes of the infected person.

If someone provided care to an infected person, and is not otherwise eligible for compensation in relation to that person (for example, as their sibling or parent), they may be eligible for compensation as an affected carer. They will need to show that they provided an infected person with care, without reward or remuneration, where the provision of care averaged at least 16.5 hours of care per week over a time period of at least 6 months, after the infection. They will be eligible to receive an injury award and a social impact award.

Whether someone receives part or all of an infected person’s care award, as per the wishes of the infected person, does not affect whether they can apply for the award as a carer, or as any other affected person. The two are not linked, and have no bearing on each other.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, further to the answer by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Cabinet Office of 29 October 2025, to Question 83801, on Peers and Members: Social Class, and to the answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent of 5 February 2026, to Question HL13977, on Civil Service: Unpaid Work, how should the children of peers self-certify their social class if they apply to the Civil Service Internship Scheme in the absence of a classification by the Office for National Statistics.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

All candidates are required to complete the questions set by ONS for determining socio-economic background based on their individual circumstances. For parental occupation this is at the age the candidate was 14. This allows the Civil Service to make a determination on their eligibility based on their answers. This is the same approach as was used for Fast Stream Internships under the previous administration.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 20 January 2026 to Question 104805 on Senior Civil Servants: Redundancy Pay, whether (a) Cabinet and (b) Permanent Secretaries asked to leave posts will be given Civil Service Compensation Scheme terms as severance payments in future.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

I refer to Minister Turley’s answer for 88716 and 95640. The Permanent Secretary model contract sets out the contractual detail on compensation payments for all Permanent Secretaries.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what role the Cabinet Office had in relation to the investigation into the then Consul General in New York in 2017.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The allegations were dismissed 9 years ago on the basis that there was no case to answer.

These allegations were considered by the Cabinet Office as the individual was a permanent member of staff of that Department.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the investigation in the then Consul General in New York in 2017.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The allegations were dismissed 9 years ago on the basis that there was no case to answer.

We do not release confidential documents relating to internal HR processes.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Morgan McSweeney will receive a severance payment follow his departure as Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister; and whether he will sign a Non Disclosure Agreement.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

It is a longstanding policy not to comment on individuals. The Model Contract for Special Advisers is published online and details the specific circumstances in which severance is payable. As with all civil servants, the Model Contract sets out that special advisers are bound by the Official Secrets Act 1989.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2026 to Question 108235 on Senior Civil Servants: Recruitment, what the (a) departments and (b) job titles are of the 90 senior civil servants recruited internally.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

I refer to my answer to UIN 108235 from 2 March 2026.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, further to the letter from the Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary to the Hon Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 30 January 2026, on severance payments, what is the wider policy of the (a) Civil Service and (b) Cabinet Office on the practice of outgoing Permanent Secretaries being paid gardening leave from the public purse for their three month waiting period when leaving Crown employment.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Business Appointment Rules for Crown Servants set out that Permanent Secretaries are required to observe a three month waiting period, and the Rules set out that it may be appropriate to pay former civil servants who are required to observe a waiting period before taking up an external role.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has changed the name, remit or structure of its facility time reporting division.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The team whose responsibilities previously included amongst other duties, collecting, collating and publishing public sector facility time data sits within a wider Civil Service Reward and Employment division. This division has existed for a number of years. The removal of the requirement for public sector organisations to report their facility time data to Cabinet Office has resulted in these specific responsibilities no longer forming part of this team’s remit.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the departing Cabinet Secretary will receive (a) a pension contribution and (b) additional pension years as part of his severance package.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Details of payments made to the former Cabinet Secretary will be published in the Annual Report and Accounts for Cabinet Office for the financial year in which the payment was made.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to ensure that civil servants who raise concerns about (a) misconduct, (b) political bias and (c) breaches of impartiality are protected from retaliation.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

There are well established whistleblowing processes in place across government. Individual government departments are responsible for determining and setting their whistleblowing arrangements and procedures. In addition, the Civil Service Commission is an independent body that can hear and determine concerns by civil servants that relate to the Civil Service Code, where it has already been raised formally under the Code with the relevant Department. To ensure external reporting remains accessible, the Government regularly reviews the Public Interest Disclosure (Prescribed Persons) Order 2014, which lists designated individuals and bodies, such as the National Audit Office, to whom a worker can make a whistleblowing disclosure.

The National Audit Office made four recommendations in the report following its investigation into whistleblowing in the Civil Service and the Public Accounts Committee made five recommendations in its subsequent report. The Cabinet Office has addressed these points and the recommendations have been completed. Neither report recommended setting up an independent external reporting mechanism. It is the Government’s position that an independent external reporting mechanism would be duplicative.

The full text of the reports are available online.

https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/investigation-whistleblowing-civil-service.pdf

https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5804/cmselect/cmpubacc/457/report.html

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of internal whistleblowing channels within the Civil Service; and whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing an independent external reporting mechanism.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

There are well established whistleblowing processes in place across government. Individual government departments are responsible for determining and setting their whistleblowing arrangements and procedures. In addition, the Civil Service Commission is an independent body that can hear and determine concerns by civil servants that relate to the Civil Service Code, where it has already been raised formally under the Code with the relevant Department. To ensure external reporting remains accessible, the Government regularly reviews the Public Interest Disclosure (Prescribed Persons) Order 2014, which lists designated individuals and bodies, such as the National Audit Office, to whom a worker can make a whistleblowing disclosure.

The National Audit Office made four recommendations in the report following its investigation into whistleblowing in the Civil Service and the Public Accounts Committee made five recommendations in its subsequent report. The Cabinet Office has addressed these points and the recommendations have been completed. Neither report recommended setting up an independent external reporting mechanism. It is the Government’s position that an independent external reporting mechanism would be duplicative.

The full text of the reports are available online.

https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/investigation-whistleblowing-civil-service.pdf

https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5804/cmselect/cmpubacc/457/report.html

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what advice the Civil Service Commission provides on departures and appointments of Cabinet Secretaries.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Cabinet Manual, sets out that the Cabinet Secretary is appointed by the Prime Minister on the advice of the First Civil Service Commissioner.

In the Government response to the House of Lords Constitution Committee report into the appointment and removal of Permanent Secretaries, the First Civil Service Commissioner confirmed that the Civil Service Commission does not play a role in Permanent Secretary departures.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the outcome was of the investigation into Dame Antonia Romeo in 2017.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The allegations were dismissed 9 years ago on the basis that there was no case to answer.

We do not release confidential documents relating to internal HR processes.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what mechanisms are in place to help facilitate Parliamentary scrutiny of contracts awarded for the administration of public sector pension schemes; and how value for money and performance are monitored once such contracts are awarded.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Details of Government contracts over £12,000 are published online primarily to ensure transparency, accountability, and fairness in the expenditure of public money. Ministers and senior officials regularly appear before parliamentary committees as an integral part of the parliamentary process of holding the government to account.

The Sourcing Playbook emphasises best practice managing contracts through a proactive, partnership-based approach, ensuring they are designed for effective monitoring from the outset. This includes guidance on robust, ongoing contract management to deliver public services efficiently, requiring clear KPIs, performance monitoring, and risk mitigation, particularly for major outsourcing projects.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether previous disciplinary allegations against Dame Antonia Romeo have been assessed by the Cabinet Office since 2017.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The allegations were dismissed 9 years ago on the basis that there was no case to answer.

These allegations were considered by the Cabinet Office as the individual was a permanent member of staff of that Department.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his oral contribution in response to the Rt hon. Member for North East Cambridgeshire during the Oral Statement of 23 February 2026 on Labour Together and APCO Worldwide: Cabinet Office Review, Official Report, column 32, which Minister approved the temporary appointment to the role of Director General for Propriety and Ethics.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Interim arrangements do not usually require ministerial approval. A recruitment campaign will be launched in due course.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Cabinet Secretary was appointed on the advice of the retiring Cabinet Secretary.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

I refer to the Hon. Member to the Gov.uk announcement, “the Prime Minister and the First Civil Service Commissioner agreed on a process to appoint a new Cabinet Secretary.”

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Senior Civil Servants can be temporarily promoted without open and fair competition.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

SCS roles can be filled on a temporary basis through temporary promotions without fair and open competition. Cabinet Office issues guidance to departments and agencies, who have the authority to determine promotion and lateral transfer arrangements for their own staff.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Tim Allan’s special adviser declaration of interests will be listed in the next annual special adviser report.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

As has been the case under successive administrations, the interests deemed relevant for publication for special advisers in No10 and the Cabinet Office are published on an annual basis by the Cabinet Office.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what her Department's policy is on the retention of the confidential report on the Consul General to New York.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Cabinet Office Information and Records Policy stipulates that HR reports are destroyed after seven years.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many participants in the Future Leaders Scheme a) enrolled, b) completed the full programme, c) withdrew before completion and d) were removed by programme administrators in each of the last three years.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The required data is provided in the table below. The 2024-25 intake began delivery in 2025, and will complete in Summer 2026, so completion data is not yet available. Withdrawal and removal information for this year is accurate as at 23 February 2026. Data has been suppressed to prevent the identification of individuals.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people in Arbroath and Broughty Ferry constituency have been affected by the issues with administering the Civil Service Pension Scheme.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

We are unable to provide a breakdown of the number of people affected in the Arbroath and Broughty Ferry constituency. Capita does not provide data on the administration of the Civil Service Pension Scheme at this specific geographic or constituency level.

The latest position of the Civil Service Pension Recovery Plan Update (2 March 2026) is available at this weblink: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-pension-recovery-plan-updates/civil-service-pension-recovery-plan-update-2-march-2026

The pension scheme continues to make monthly pension payments to approximately 730,000 existing pensioner members on time.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the publication entitled Cabinet Office - Second Headquarters: Year in Review 2025, of 9 January 2026, how many headcount staff are assigned to work in the second Headquarters; and how many desks there are.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Cabinet Office Second Headquarters is based in the Government Hub at 1 Atlantic Square, Glasgow.

The Cabinet Office's Second Headquarters serves as a key regional base, accommodating over 700 Cabinet Office staff.

It has been the practice of successive governments not to comment, on grounds of both national security and staff safety, on the physical capacity or staffing numbers for individual buildings of the government estate.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many participants in the Directors Leaders Scheme a) enrolled, b) completed the full programme, c) withdrew before completion and d) were removed by programme administrators in each of the last three years.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Directors Leadership Programme cohort 4 is starting from 22 April and has 35 participants.

In the last three years:

1. 109 people were enrolled.

2. Everyone completed the programme

3. Nobody withdrew from the programme

4. Nobody was removed from the programme by the administration.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, further to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, Oral evidence: The work of the Cabinet Office, HC 463, 16 December 2025, Question 353, if he will list the 36 voluntary exit schemes in operation by public body.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

I refer to the Honourable Member to Minister Turley’s answer provided to PQ 82675.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, who is responsible for (a) undertaking and (b) overseeing the due diligence process in relation to the appointment of a Cabinet Secretary; and how potential conflicts of interest are managed.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

I refer to the Gov.uk announcement of the Cabinet Secretary appointment, which said that a due diligence process has also been undertaken by the Permanent Secretary of the Cabinet Office and the interim Government Chief People Officer.

The First Civil Service Commissioner approved the comprehensive due diligence process and agreed the conclusions drawn, to form the basis for the Prime Minister to make an appointment decision.

All Permanent Secretaries must follow the ‘Declaration and management of outside interests in the Civil Service’ guidance.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Ministerial Direction of 16 February 2026, whether the outgoing Cabinet Secretary will receive an early termination exit payment based on the same methodology as the previous Cabinet Secretary, or whether the payment will exceed Civil Service Compensation Scheme terms.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Details of any payments made to the previous Cabinet Secretary will be published in the Cabinet Office Annual report and Accounts for 2025-26.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Sir Chris Wormald undertook a formal exit interview upon leaving the post of Cabinet Secretary.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

I refer to the Gov.uk announcement of Sir Chris Wormald’s departure. No further comment will be provided.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to his statement to the House on 23 February 2026 in Hansard volume 781, column 32, by what date do they expect to launch the external recruitment campaign for the role of Director General for Propriety and Ethics.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

I refer to my answer to 110422, the recruitment campaign for the permanent role will be launched in due course.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Sullivan Review’s recommendation that data on biological sex should be collected as the default and distinct from gender identity, what formal guidance and harmonised data standards the UK Statistics Authority and Office for National Statistics will issue for all public bodies and Government departments; and by when these standards will be published and mandated.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

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

A response to the Hon lady’s Parliamentary Question of 25th February is attached.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how the ONS will ensure that the design of questions in major surveys and censuses, including ONS surveys, departmental surveys and Census outputs, conform with the Sullivan Review recommendation that “sex should be the default target of any sex question,” and that sex and gender identity are not conflated in a single question.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

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

A response to the Hon lady’s Parliamentary Question of 25th February is attached.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Office for National Statistics has a timetable to implement the Sullivan Review’s recommendation that biological sex is collected as a distinct data variable in all Government statistical outputs.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

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

A response to the Hon lady’s Parliamentary Question of 25th February is attached.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Civil Service Compensation Scheme severance payments to departing Cabinet Secretaries are pensionable.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The terms of the Civil Service Compensation Scheme (CSCS) are the same for all employees regardless of grade. Compensation payments made under the CSCS are non pensionable.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Beyond Boundaries programme, how many participants in each of the last three years a) enrolled, b) completed the full programme, c) withdrew before completion, and d) were removed by the programme administrators.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The data is provided in the table below. Data prior to the 2025/26 intake on non-completion is only available as a combined figure. The 2025/26 intake began delivery in October 2025, and will complete in September 2026, so completion data is not yet available. Only a combined withdrawals and removals figure can be provided for the 2025/26 intake due to the suppression of low removal numbers potentially making candidates identifiable.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to introducing a tax on companies which benefited from (1) the research conducted on British infected blood victims, and (2) the drugs used to treat infected blood patients; and what assessment they have made of the benefits and risks of taxing those companies.

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

The Infected Blood Inquiry recommended that a compensation scheme be set up as soon as possible, and by centrally funding the scheme, the Government has been able quickly allocate the money necessary.

The Government firmly believes that access to redress is fundamental in upholding justice and fairness in our society. People must have avenues to seek recourse when they have been wronged or harmed. We hope the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme provides some closure to those who have been wronged under some of those most devastating circumstances.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government on what date or dates the Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary Cat Little wrote to departments asking them to retain electronic correspondence held on (1) government, and (2) non-government, devices relating to the Government response to the Humble Address of 4 February.

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

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 and repeated in the House of Lords that same day, and the Oral Statement on the 23rd February, in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, which set out an update on the Government's process and that Departments have been instructed to retain material that may be relevant to the motion.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the reply by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 24 February (HL Deb col 490), whether there is any constitutional obstacle to the Government hiring an independent King's Counsel to investigate a suspended Minister, rather than asking the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards to do so.

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

As Head of the Executive, the Prime Minister may request that any investigation work in relation to the conduct of serving Ministers is undertaken by a range of relevant individuals, including the Independent Adviser of Ministerial Standards or legal counsel.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to ensure that administrative datasets, including health, justice, education and crime datasets, will collect data on biological sex.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

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

A response to the Hon lady’s Parliamentary Question of 25th February 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 17 March (HL14055), why the Prime Minister’s meeting with Palantir and Lord Mandelson in Washington is not classed as a meeting for the purposes of the Downing Street’s quarterly transparency returns under the Cabinet Office guidance, Ministers' overseas travel and meetings: Publication Guidance, published on 30 January 2025.

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

The visit was part of the Prime Minister's trip to Washington. During this visit the Prime Minister listened to a short presentation about Palantir’s work, followed by a tour of the premises and an introduction to members of staff.

Any contracts for any firm go through the usual rigorous departmental processes and their decision makers.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2026 to Question 105252 on Government People Group: Contract, which public body and business unit is the customer under the KPI.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

With regard to the PeopleScout Ltd contract referenced in question 105252, Cabinet Office awarded the contract and the Government Recruitment Service within Cabinet Office is the responsible Customer. Consequently, the Customer referenced within the KPI is Government Recruitment Service, and the Supplier will only accept commissions directly from this entity.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Prime Minister has agreed a date to meet with victims of press abuse.

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

I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 02 February, Official Report, PQ HC107285:

PQ 107285: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Prime Minister has agreed a date to meet with victims of press abuse, following his remarks at the Liaison Committee on 15 December 2025.

Answer: Officials from the Prime Minister’s Office are in contact with representatives of the group to arrange a meeting.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office on 23 March (HC120630), what consideration they have given to amending primary legislation to provide for the Ministerial Pension Scheme to be in scope of forfeiture for situations where a former minister is convicted for a criminal offence in relation to their activities while serving as a minister.

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

The government does not currently have any plans to amend the Ministerial Pension Scheme.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what guidance his Department has issued on pension forfeiture in relation to (a) Civil Service and (b) Ministerial pensions.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

1. Guidance on the forfeiture process for the Civil Service Pension Scheme is provided on the scheme website within the Employer Pension Guide.

2. No guidance has been issued on forfeiture for the Ministerial Pension Scheme.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish a register of senior civil servants' secondary paid employment for 2024 to 2025.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Departments are responsible for publishing the detail of any paid or otherwise remunerated outside employment, held by members of their SCS, annually.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether applicants for civil service roles self-certify their ethnicity.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Yes. Candidates may self-certify their ethnicity when applying for Civil Service roles, though it is optional and is not included in decision making regarding appointments.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish (a) Government People Group and (b) his Department's guidance on staff working compressed hours.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The government does not publish internal documents.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide compensation for career damage and financial loss for victims in the infected blood scheme who were unable to complete or build on their training or qualifications.

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

The Financial Loss award is designed to compensate for past and future financial losses suffered as a result of infection. For people infected with HIV or chronic Hepatitis infections, this is calculated based on the average anticipated loss of earnings they would have suffered as a result of their infection and subsequent treatment.

In some exceptional cases, infected people will have suffered greater financial losses as a result of their infection than they will be compensated for as part of their core route award. This might be, for example, where they had particularly high earnings prior to their infection. Infected people in this situation can apply for an Exceptional Loss award through the Scheme’s supplementary route, and if eligible, receive additional financial loss compensation to reflect their circumstances.

The Inquiry’s Additional Report included a recommendation to consult on whether these evidence requirements mean that some people who ought to be eligible for the award are prevented from accessing it, and whether there are ways to address this.

The consultation asked respondents to consider forms of evidence for loss of earnings, fairness for applicants to the Scheme, and the types of evidence the Infected Blood Compensation Authority could take into account when someone no longer has documentary evidence to prove they earned beyond what is provided for under the core route. The consultation closed on 22 January. The Minister for the Cabinet Office hopes to update Parliament soon on the changes the Government intends to make to the compensation scheme, as a result of the public consultation.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they gave to the treatment of estates in the consultation on the proposed changes to the infected blood compensation scheme which ended on 22 January.

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

On 30 October, the Government launched a public consultation on proposed changes to the infected blood compensation scheme. The Government particularly welcomes responses from those in the infected blood community, including estate representatives, and family members who sadly have lost a loved one due to the use of infected blood, or infected blood products.

Some of the proposals set out in the consultation will have an impact on claims made by estate representatives, on behalf of a deceased infected person. The consultation focused on the areas recommended by the Infected Blood Inquiry in its Additional Report. It also asked whether a respondent would like to raise other issues around the compensation scheme that may not have been addressed in the Additional Report.

The Government is carefully considering responses to the consultation, which closed on 22 January. The Minister for the Cabinet Office hopes to update Parliament soon on the changes the Government intends to make to the compensation scheme, as a result of the public consultation.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 10 March (HL15172), on what date the guidance on speaking to the media was last updated.

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

I refer the noble Lady to the answer given in HL15172:

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 3 February (HL13976), and with reference to paragraph 223 of the Cabinet Office Guide to Parliamentary Work and paragraph 1.6(d) of the Ministerial Code, what is the reason why current policy development prevents the publication of the previous guidance to the Civil Service about speaking to the media. HL15172

Answer: This guidance is currently under development in a live policy area. Premature release of this information would inhibit the free and frank provision of advice for policy development.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the speech, Move fast. Fix things, delivered on 20 January 2026 by the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, what proportion of the Senior Civil Service had (a) primary career experience in policy roles, (b) primary career experience in operational delivery roles and (c) prior private sector experience; and what the equivalent figures were in each of the previous five years as of 1 January 2026.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

We are unable to provide a response as this information is not captured centrally at the application stage.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his speech entitled Move fast. Fix things, delivered on 20 January 2026, whether training delivered under Learning Frameworks 2.0 will cease to be procured from external suppliers.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Many of the Civil Service’s training needs can be delivered in-house, by civil servants. However, it is important to note that the Civil Service will always want to bring in expert knowledge, insight and learning from outside the Civil Service to ensure that civil servants have the right technical knowledge and skills.

The National School of Government and Public Services will deliver more training in house - especially for leadership and management, and core skills. Over the course of the next three years, Government Skills will increase the focus on in-house delivery where it is sensible to do so and, by April 2029, we will have moved to a new delivery model where we work directly with more suppliers.

Over this three year period, the Cabinet Office will use the Learning Frameworks 2.0 contracts to deliver training services to the Civil Service whilst the infrastructure needed by the National School of Government and Public Services is established.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they took to consult the community of infected blood victims as part of the consultation on proposed changes to the infected blood compensation scheme which ended on 22 January.

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

On 30 October, the Government launched a public consultation on proposed changes to the infected blood compensation scheme. In that consultation document, the Government explained that it welcomed responses from all those with an interest in the changes, and especially those in the infected blood community. This consultation has been an important step toward ensuring those impacted are involved in the decision-making process, and I am grateful to all those who took the time to respond. The core purpose of the consultation is to gather views on how the Government intends to implement the Inquiry’s recommendations. Every response to this consultation is being considered carefully and with the seriousness the issue deserves.

The consultation closed on 22 January. The Minister for the Cabinet Office hopes Parliament soon on the changes the Government intends to make to the compensation scheme, as a result of the public consultation.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many job advertisements were published on the Civil Service jobs website in 2025 which were (a) available on public website and (b) only available to Civil Services within the passworded website.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

In 2025, there were 45,566 job adverts published on Civil Service Jobs. Of these, 24,865 (54.6%) were available to the public. The remaining 20,701 (45.4%) were advised internally and/or cross-government, meaning they were available only to existing civil servants.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2026 to Question 105244 on Senior Civil Service: Training, if he will publish the training material for the content on inclusion in leadership.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Our leadership development materials use internal case studies and sensitive organisational data to address specific system-wide challenges.

To protect the privacy of this information and integrity, we do not publish these materials externally. We do, however, make the programme’s key themes and learning objectives available on the webpage of Accelerated Development Schemes on GOV.UK.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish Chris Wormald’s contract as Cabinet Secretary.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

I refer to Minister Turley’s answer 88716, a copy of the Permanent Secretary model contract has been placed in the House Library. This applies to the Cabinet Secretary.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many staff within his Department are reliant on a visa for employment.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

39 civil servants are employed through Skilled Worker visas in the Cabinet Office. Before they can be considered for visa sponsorship, all candidates for Cabinet Office posts must meet the Civil Service nationality rules which operate alongside UK immigration rules.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people have his Department taken on internship schemes open only to those with certain protected characteristics in each of the last three years.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

In each of the last 3 years Cabinet Office has placed less than 5 people on internship schemes open only to those with certain protected characteristics. The exact number has been redacted to avoid identification of individuals.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department was invited by the Office for National Statistics to provide evidence or input into its review of the ethnicity harmonised standard.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

A review of the harmonised standard for ethnicity data collection is underway by the Government Statistical Service Harmonisation team.

A public consultation between October 2025 and February 2026 sought views from a wide range of users, including Government Departments and public bodies, to understand user needs for ethnic group data. This was supplemented by a programme of engagement activity, including with representatives of all government departments.

ONS have committed to providing an initial response to the public consultation in April, and a full report on the consultation in late summer 2026 will include more detailed information on the departments that responded to the consultation.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what evidence his Department submitted to the Office for National Statistics' review of the ethnicity harmonised standard, including in relation to the recording of Sikhs and Jewish people as ethnic groups.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

An initial response to the public consultation is due to be published in April, followed by a full report on the consultation in late summer 2026. This report will include all formal responses to the consultation, and the names of the organisations that responded.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which Departments submitted evidence to the Office for National Statistics' review of the ethnicity harmonised standard.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

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

A response to the Hon lady’s Parliamentary Question of 6th March is attached.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Baroness Shafik's contract with his Department stipulates that she may (a) claim House of Lords attendance allowances and (b) speak in the House of Lords.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Baroness Shafik has been on a leave of absence from the House of Lords since 10th September 2025.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Varun Chandra remains employed as a special adviser.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

In January, Mr Chandra was appointed as the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to the United States on Trade and Investment.

Mr Chandra remains employed as a special adviser to the Prime Minister.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when his Department plans to launch the Contingent Decision route for members of the Partnership Pension scheme.

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 Civil Service Pension Scheme (CSPS) launched the Contingent Decision process for members who opted out of the scheme in July 2025. However, the process for members who switched to the Partnership pension scheme involves additional complexity, requiring the reconciliation of contributions between defined contribution and defined benefit arrangements. Planning is underway to define the process and timeline, and we aim to open the process later in 2026.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether a permanent Director General for the Proprietary and Constitution Group has been appointed; and recruitment process was for that position.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Director General for Propriety and Constitution Group is currently filled on an interim basis, a permanent appointment has not been made. The recruitment campaign is still currently in planning stages and details will be released in due course.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have for specific regulatory provisions to compensate the estates of those who died as a result of being given infected blood products for mental health injuries such as (1) suicide, (2) attempted suicide, and (3) other severe impairments; and what plans they have to acknowledge and compensate the estates of the deceased for additional claims for mental injury beyond the core compensation claims route.

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

The Infected Blood Compensation Scheme currently provides compensation for psychological harm through both the core and supplementary route, depending on the type and severity of harm. Under the supplementary route, the Severe Health Condition award offers additional compensation where someone has been diagnosed with a severe psychiatric disorder that has caused suffering beyond what is recognised and compensated for as part of their core award. The estates of deceased infected people are eligible for the core route, and to apply for the supplementary route.

The Government has recently consulted on the expansion of eligibility for a Severe Health Condition award for infected people who meet the criteria for the Special Category Mechanism (SCM) or equivalent payments. It also proposes that severe mental health issues not covered in the core route or by the existing Severe Health Condition award are compensated for by this new route. The Government has not proposed that estates of deceased infected people, unless they were receiving SCM or equivalent payments at the time of death, are eligible for this award. The Minister for the Cabinet Office hopes to update Parliament soon on the changes the Government intends to make to the compensation scheme, as a result of the public consultation.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the consequences of people who died as a result of infected blood being paid less under the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme than those who are still alive.

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

An infected person’s compensation (while living or as an estate) is calculated in line with five Categories of Award to recognise and compensate for the impacts of the infected blood scandal in different areas of a person’s life - these are an Injury Award, Social Impact Award, Autonomy Award, Care Award and Financial Loss Award. For the first three (Injury, Social Impact and Autonomy) the award amounts are the same whether someone applies to the scheme for compensation whilst they are still alive, or whether a personal representative of their estate makes an application.

Where an infected person has passed away before they have applied to the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA), the estate will be able to make a claim on the infected person’s behalf. In that claim, financial loss from the point of infection to the point of the infected person’s death will be paid to the estate. This recognises the loss of earnings that a person likely suffered because of their illness. Financial loss is not paid to the estate for any years after the year of that person’s death. This is because the person cannot have had reduced earnings after they passed away. Instead, those who were financially dependent on them at the point of their death will have suffered from the reduced earnings caused by their death.

The Cabinet Office has carried out analysis under the Public Sector Equality Duty for all regulations made to establish the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme. The most recent analysis was published in October.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information his Department holds on the number and proportion of pubs that are (a) independent, (b) owned by public companies and (c) owned by breweries.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

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

A response to the Rt Hon. Gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 10th March is attached.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Cabinet Office on 6 June 2025 (HC53886), how much was spent on the Prime Minister’s domestic flights in 2025; and whether this includes expenditure on carbon offsetting.

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

Ministerial travel is undertaken using efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements. Security considerations are also taken into account.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the comments of the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on LBC on 22 March 2026, whether his Department has been notified of a crime reference number for the theft of the Prime Minister’s former Chief of Staff’s mobile phone.

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

The former Chief of Staff’s phone was stolen, and he reported it at the time to the police and relevant teams in No10. This was before the Humble Address that was passed in February. The Government is committed to complying with the Humble Address in full, while continuing to support the Metropolitan Police with their investigation. I refer the Hon Member to the statement provided by the Metropolitan Police on 25 March and publication of the transcript confirming that the theft was reported.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his Department's policy is on staff reporting the (a) loss and (b) theft of mobile devices; and whether that policy was followed for the theft of the Prime Minister's former Chief of Staff's mobile phone.

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

The former Chief of Staff’s phone was stolen, and he reported it at the time to the police and relevant teams in No10. This was before the Humble Address that was passed in February. The Government is committed to complying with the Humble Address in full, while continuing to support the Metropolitan Police with their investigation. I refer the Hon Member to the statement provided by the Metropolitan Police on 25 March and publication of the transcript confirming that the theft was reported.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Prime Minister’s former Chief of Staff reported the theft of his mobile phone to the Cabinet Secretary.

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

The former Chief of Staff’s phone was stolen, and he reported it at the time to the police and relevant teams in No10. This was before the Humble Address that was passed in February. The Government is committed to complying with the Humble Address in full, while continuing to support the Metropolitan Police with their investigation. I refer the Hon Member to the statement provided by the Metropolitan Police on 25 March and publication of the transcript confirming that the theft was reported.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 20 March 2026, to Question 119894, on Gambling Commission: Managers, which specific public sector regulators (a) are and (b) are not subject to the Business Appointments Applications process.

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

The Business Appointment Rules (BARs) apply to various individuals through specific codes of conduct. For instance, civil servants are subject to them via the Civil Servant Management Code, ministers through the Ministerial Code, and Special Advisers via their Code of Conduct.

Where a public sector organisation, such as an Executive Agency or an Advisory Non-Departmental Public Body, is staffed by civil servants, those individuals will be subject to the BARs.

Even though some individuals operating within the broader government sphere may not fall directly under the BARs, public bodies operating at arm’s length from government are still expected to implement their own equivalent processes to manage potential conflicts of interest, with these being tailored to their specific organisational context.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether all communications on Morgan McSweeney’s mobile phone were uploaded to Government servers.

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

There is established guidance on the management and recording of electronic communications on non-corporate channels. We keep all guidance around the use of non-corporate communications under review to ensure it remains fit for purpose.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Metropolitan Police has asked the Government to not publish any communication between Morgan McSweeney and Peter Mandelson.

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

I refer you to the remarks the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister made to the house in response to the urgent question about the Humble Address on 16 March.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the (a) consultation responses and (b) feedback from impacted people on proposed changes to the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme are taken into account.

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

On 30 October, the Government launched a public consultation on proposed changes to the infected blood compensation scheme. The core purpose of this consultation was to gather views on how the Government intends to implement the Infected Blood Inquiry’s recommendations, and responses from the infected blood community were particularly encouraged.

Every response to this consultation is being considered carefully and with the seriousness the issue deserves. The consultation closed on 22 January, and the Government will publish its response within 12 weeks of this closing date.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Prime Minister’s evidence to the Liaison Committee on 15 December 2025, whether he has met Christine Flack, Kate and Gerry McCann, and Margaret Aspinall.

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

I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 02 February, Official Report, PQ 107285.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of making a formal public response to the petition dated September 2025 on the United Kingdom’s historical role in Palestine.

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

The Cabinet Office manages its departmental records in accordance with the provisions of the Public Records Act 1958. Section 3 of the Act sets out the provisions for selecting and preserving public records.

The government does not routinely comment on petitions.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to identify, review and publish departmental records relevant to Government policy in Palestine.

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

The Cabinet Office manages its departmental records in accordance with the provisions of the Public Records Act 1958. Section 3 of the Act sets out the provisions for selecting and preserving public records.

The government does not routinely comment on petitions.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has issued guidance on whether a Minister can be suspended.

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

The Cabinet Office has not issued such guidance.

The Ministerial Code sets out the standards of conduct expected of ministers and how they discharge their duties. As the Code sets out, the Prime Minister is the ultimate judge of the standards of behaviour expected of a minister and the appropriate consequences of a breach of those standards.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 19 March 2026, to Question 116505, on Disinformation, if he will set out what public narratives have been monitored using the tool in the last month.

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

Storyzy's platform empowers users to detect information manipulation and understand the information environment by analysing large quantities of data points to understand public narratives.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what justification is being applied to changes to the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme, where individuals who suffered long-term health harms of interferon treatment are to receive an uplift in compensation from 2017 onwards rather than from when their treatment began.

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

The Inquiry recommended changes to the infection severity bands to give greater recognition for the suffering caused by interferon treatment. The Government agrees that changes are needed and we have consulted on our proposal to introduce a new infection severity band, referred to as Level 2B, which would increase people’s financial loss and care compensation awards where relevant, to recognise the short-term side-effects that many, but not all, people suffer due to interferon treatment.

The Government proposed that all infected people who have received treatment with interferon will qualify for the proposed Level 2B infection severity band. It will be part of their core compensation award and people will be eligible for it even if they were only able to tolerate interferon treatment for a very short period.

We recognise that some infected people have suffered and continue to suffer debilitating, long-term impacts on their ability to work. We have therefore consulted on a proposal to introduce a new Special Category Mechanism (SCM) Severe Health Condition award which would offer higher awards for financial loss and care based on the enduring impact that people have experienced in relation to their ability to work and their need for care.

The consultation closed on 22 January, and the Government will publish its response within 12 weeks of this closing date.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what considerations have been given to extending the cut-off date for eligibility for the Unethical Research Award in the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme beyond 1984, given the evidence in the Infected Blood Inquiry (Additional Report on Compensation) that experimentation on both adults and children continued beyond this date.

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

The Inquiry, in its Additional Report, made a set of recommendations about the Unethical Research awards. The Government has consulted on these recommendations, including on a proposal to expand eligibility for Unethical Research awards to all infected people who received treatment for a bleeding disorder in the UK before 1985. The Government is now carefully considering the range of responses it received on this issue before determining its final position on eligibility.

The consultation closed on 22 January, and the Government will publish its response within 12 weeks of this closing date.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 23 March 2026 to Question 120836 on Prime Minister: Ministerial Boxes, whether there is guidance on how (a) oral, (b) written and (c) electronic responses by Ministers to formal advice and submissions should be recorded on the official record.

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

Yes there is. The Guidance for the management of Private Office information and records has been published and can be found on gov.uk.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what is the current process for (a) Ministers, (b) Senior Civil Servants and (c) Government advisers for reporting the theft of a Government mobile phone containing sensitive information.

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

The former Chief of Staff’s phone was stolen, and he reported it at the time to the police and relevant teams in No10. This was before the Humble Address that was passed in February. The Government is committed to complying with the Humble Address in full, while continuing to support the Metropolitan Police with their investigation. I refer the Hon Member to the statement provided by the Metropolitan Police on 25 March and publication of the transcript confirming that the theft was reported.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department took to help prevent the exploitation of data from the unlocked mobile phone of the former Chief Advisor to the Prime Minister following its theft in October 2024.

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

The former Chief of Staff’s phone was stolen, and he reported it at the time to the police and relevant teams in No10. This was before the Humble Address that was passed in February. The Government is committed to complying with the Humble Address in full, while continuing to support the Metropolitan Police with their investigation. I refer the Hon Member to the statement provided by the Metropolitan Police on 25 March and publication of the transcript confirming that the theft was reported.

Found: department intends to launch a fair and open competition, in line with the Governance Code and Cabinet Office

Found: social exclusion across the life course: families with children, Social Exclusion Task Force, Cabinet Office

Found: Darren Jones MP Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Cabinet Office

Found: financial-resilience-of-dcms-sponsored-museums-and-galleries/ [8] Arm’s length body sponsorship code of good practice, Cabinet Office

Found: Letter from Catherine Little CB, Civil Service Chief Operating Officer and Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary

Found: Letter from Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office and His Majesty’s Paymaster

Found: Letter from Chris Ward MP, Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office on Intergovernmental Relations Engagement

Found: We work closely with the Cabinet Office who is responsible for the UK-EU relationship, including other

Found: Nick Thomas-Symonds MP Minister for the Cabinet Office His Majesty’s Paymaster General Cabinet

Found: 020 7219 6083 hleuroaffairs@parliament.uk The Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP Minister for the Cabinet Office

Found: oversight of WA rights for UK nationals and their family members living in the EU falls to the Cabinet Office

Found: Nick Thomas-Symonds MP His Majesty’s Paymaster General Cabinet Office 70 Whitehall London

Found: Letter from Chris Ward MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Cabinet Office to Lord Strathclyde, Chair of the

Found: TAP panels include senior officials from NISTA and Cabinet Office, ensuring all elements of the plan

Found: TAP panels include senior officials from NISTA and Cabinet Office, ensuring all elements of the plan

Found: TAP panels include senior officials from NISTA and Cabinet Office, ensuring all elements of the plan

Found: TAP panels include senior officials from NISTA and Cabinet Office, ensuring all elements of the plan

Found: TAP panels include senior officials from NISTA and Cabinet Office, ensuring all elements of the plan

Found: TAP panels include senior officials from NISTA and Cabinet Office, ensuring all elements of the plan

Found: The last time the Cabinet Office did research on this, it was clearly way down the list of issues that

Question to the Leader of the House:

To ask the Leader of the House, what steps he is taking to ensure named day Written Parliamentary Questions are answered in a timely manner.

Answered by Alan Campbell - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons

Parliament has a right to scrutinise Ministers, and hold the Government to account. I expect Hon. Members to receive timely and helpful responses to their questions.

I have written to all Members of Cabinet and spoken with Departmental Parliamentary Clerks and Departmental Permanent Secretaries to remind departments and Ministers about the importance of providing full and helpful responses to parliamentary questions.

In addition, the House of Commons Procedure Committee monitors departmental performance in responding to Written Parliamentary Questions (WPQs). The Committee is currently undertaking an inquiry into WPQs to which the Government has provided written evidence (available at: https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/161782/pdf/), and their sessional reporting continues to be an effective tool to hold Departments to account.

Further to the question the Hon. Member raised with me at Business Questions on 26 March, I have pursued the matter with the Cabinet Office, and have been informed that the Hon. Gentleman has received the response that he sought.

I continue to encourage Hon. Members to raise any specific issues they may have with myself or my office.

Question to the Leader of the House:

To ask the Leader of the House, what steps hon. Members can take to seek answers to Named Day parliamentary questions in instances where those questions are not answered by the day named in the question.

Answered by Alan Campbell - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons

Parliament has a right to scrutinise Ministers, and hold the Government and public bodies to account. I expect Hon. Members to receive timely and helpful responses to their questions.

The House of Commons Procedure Committee monitors departmental performance in responding to Written Parliamentary Questions (WPQs). The Committee is currently undertaking an inquiry into WPQs to which the Government has provided written evidence (available at: https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/161782/pdf/), and their sessional reporting continues to be an effective tool to hold Departments to account.

Further to the question the Hon. Member raised with me during the Business Question on Thursday 26 March 2026, I raised the matter with the Cabinet Office and have been informed that the Hon. Member has now received a response.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many civils servants were found to have broken the Civil Service Code in (a) 2024 and (b) 2025.

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

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office does not hold Civil Service‑wide data on findings of breaches of the Civil Service Code. Oversight of the Civil Service Code, including centrally held information on its application across government departments, sits with the Cabinet Office.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many departmental employees were on performance management plans in (a) 2023, (b) 2024 and (c) 2025.

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

Although the Department holds data on performance markings, it does not centrally record the number of employees on performance management plans and therefore cannot provide figures for 2023, 2024, or 2025. Senior Civil Servants (SCS) and delegated grades, non-SCS, operate under different performance management frameworks.

SCS follow the Cabinet Office-prescribed SCS framework and should have at least quarterly performance conversations, at which ratings are provided. If an SCS receives the lowest performance rating for two consecutive quarters, a performance development plan is put in place with appropriate support. If the lowest rating continues, there is an expectation that the individual is placed on formal poor performance measures in line with the SCS framework.

Delegated grades follow the Department’s Performance Health Check policy and receive mid and end of year performance ratings, supported by monthly performance conversations. Where a delegated grade performance falls below the expected standard, managers must take early, supportive action through regular performance conversations, before deciding on whether any informal or formal action is required under the Supporting Performance Improvement policy and procedure.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish a security risk assessment for the use of Chinese drones by UK police.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office provided £10.6m to NPAS in FY2025/26. In addition, the Home Office has committed £34.5m to NPAS to support the replacement of 7 helicopters. For further information on annual grant information for NPAS, the Government via the Cabinet Office is committed to publish grant data on an annual basis for schemes and programmes that are funded by the Government, including the NPAS Capital Grant. This can be accessed on the Cabinet Office website under 'Government grant data and statistics'.

The procurement, operational deployment and recording of data on police use of drones and crewed aircraft are operational matters for police forces, who are best placed to assess their own operational needs while ensuring they have the tools necessary to protect the public. The Home Office does not hold information on the proportion of drones registered by the CAA.

The Home Office is currently funding and supporting the work of the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s (NPCC) Drones Programme, who were allocated £2.3m in FY2025/26. The programme is responsible for standardising and professionalising the use of drones across UK police forces. This includes developing a bespoke training and accreditation pathway for police drone operators as well as working with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to provide the necessary oversight on the safety aspects of police drone operations.

Drones and helicopters are complimentary to one another, not interchangeable. Drones are valuable for close‑range, localised tasks, but may not always replace the speed, persistence, capacity and safety assurance of a helicopter. However, this is subject to ongoing research and analysis, continuously evolving as technology advances.

The Home Office is currently working with NPAS and the NPCC Drones Programme to assess, compare and evaluate the benefits and cost-effectiveness of crewed and uncrewed technologies for operational policing and how this will support development of a future blended fleet model for police aviation, in line with the NPCC Aviation Strategy (2025-2035).

In addition, the Government takes national and cyber security extremely seriously and regularly reviews risks, including from Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) which includes drones. The National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) have issued guidance for security professionals across public and private sector organisations on the appropriate security measures which should be taken to manage potential security risks via UAS technologies, including drones. In line with existing guidance, the NPCC Drones Programme is currently undertaking a review on the data and security risk implications associated with police use of drones.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what operating procedures exist to prevent (a) police and (b) non-police drones colliding with police helicopters.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office provided £10.6m to NPAS in FY2025/26. In addition, the Home Office has committed £34.5m to NPAS to support the replacement of 7 helicopters. For further information on annual grant information for NPAS, the Government via the Cabinet Office is committed to publish grant data on an annual basis for schemes and programmes that are funded by the Government, including the NPAS Capital Grant. This can be accessed on the Cabinet Office website under 'Government grant data and statistics'.

The procurement, operational deployment and recording of data on police use of drones and crewed aircraft are operational matters for police forces, who are best placed to assess their own operational needs while ensuring they have the tools necessary to protect the public. The Home Office does not hold information on the proportion of drones registered by the CAA.

The Home Office is currently funding and supporting the work of the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s (NPCC) Drones Programme, who were allocated £2.3m in FY2025/26. The programme is responsible for standardising and professionalising the use of drones across UK police forces. This includes developing a bespoke training and accreditation pathway for police drone operators as well as working with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to provide the necessary oversight on the safety aspects of police drone operations.

Drones and helicopters are complimentary to one another, not interchangeable. Drones are valuable for close‑range, localised tasks, but may not always replace the speed, persistence, capacity and safety assurance of a helicopter. However, this is subject to ongoing research and analysis, continuously evolving as technology advances.

The Home Office is currently working with NPAS and the NPCC Drones Programme to assess, compare and evaluate the benefits and cost-effectiveness of crewed and uncrewed technologies for operational policing and how this will support development of a future blended fleet model for police aviation, in line with the NPCC Aviation Strategy (2025-2035).

In addition, the Government takes national and cyber security extremely seriously and regularly reviews risks, including from Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) which includes drones. The National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) have issued guidance for security professionals across public and private sector organisations on the appropriate security measures which should be taken to manage potential security risks via UAS technologies, including drones. In line with existing guidance, the NPCC Drones Programme is currently undertaking a review on the data and security risk implications associated with police use of drones.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of drones registered by the CAA are operated by the police.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office provided £10.6m to NPAS in FY2025/26. In addition, the Home Office has committed £34.5m to NPAS to support the replacement of 7 helicopters. For further information on annual grant information for NPAS, the Government via the Cabinet Office is committed to publish grant data on an annual basis for schemes and programmes that are funded by the Government, including the NPAS Capital Grant. This can be accessed on the Cabinet Office website under 'Government grant data and statistics'.

The procurement, operational deployment and recording of data on police use of drones and crewed aircraft are operational matters for police forces, who are best placed to assess their own operational needs while ensuring they have the tools necessary to protect the public. The Home Office does not hold information on the proportion of drones registered by the CAA.

The Home Office is currently funding and supporting the work of the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s (NPCC) Drones Programme, who were allocated £2.3m in FY2025/26. The programme is responsible for standardising and professionalising the use of drones across UK police forces. This includes developing a bespoke training and accreditation pathway for police drone operators as well as working with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to provide the necessary oversight on the safety aspects of police drone operations.

Drones and helicopters are complimentary to one another, not interchangeable. Drones are valuable for close‑range, localised tasks, but may not always replace the speed, persistence, capacity and safety assurance of a helicopter. However, this is subject to ongoing research and analysis, continuously evolving as technology advances.

The Home Office is currently working with NPAS and the NPCC Drones Programme to assess, compare and evaluate the benefits and cost-effectiveness of crewed and uncrewed technologies for operational policing and how this will support development of a future blended fleet model for police aviation, in line with the NPCC Aviation Strategy (2025-2035).

In addition, the Government takes national and cyber security extremely seriously and regularly reviews risks, including from Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) which includes drones. The National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) have issued guidance for security professionals across public and private sector organisations on the appropriate security measures which should be taken to manage potential security risks via UAS technologies, including drones. In line with existing guidance, the NPCC Drones Programme is currently undertaking a review on the data and security risk implications associated with police use of drones.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make a comparative assessment of the cost effectiveness of policing with (a) drones and (b) crewed helicopters.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office provided £10.6m to NPAS in FY2025/26. In addition, the Home Office has committed £34.5m to NPAS to support the replacement of 7 helicopters. For further information on annual grant information for NPAS, the Government via the Cabinet Office is committed to publish grant data on an annual basis for schemes and programmes that are funded by the Government, including the NPAS Capital Grant. This can be accessed on the Cabinet Office website under 'Government grant data and statistics'.

The procurement, operational deployment and recording of data on police use of drones and crewed aircraft are operational matters for police forces, who are best placed to assess their own operational needs while ensuring they have the tools necessary to protect the public. The Home Office does not hold information on the proportion of drones registered by the CAA.

The Home Office is currently funding and supporting the work of the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s (NPCC) Drones Programme, who were allocated £2.3m in FY2025/26. The programme is responsible for standardising and professionalising the use of drones across UK police forces. This includes developing a bespoke training and accreditation pathway for police drone operators as well as working with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to provide the necessary oversight on the safety aspects of police drone operations.

Drones and helicopters are complimentary to one another, not interchangeable. Drones are valuable for close‑range, localised tasks, but may not always replace the speed, persistence, capacity and safety assurance of a helicopter. However, this is subject to ongoing research and analysis, continuously evolving as technology advances.

The Home Office is currently working with NPAS and the NPCC Drones Programme to assess, compare and evaluate the benefits and cost-effectiveness of crewed and uncrewed technologies for operational policing and how this will support development of a future blended fleet model for police aviation, in line with the NPCC Aviation Strategy (2025-2035).

In addition, the Government takes national and cyber security extremely seriously and regularly reviews risks, including from Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) which includes drones. The National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) have issued guidance for security professionals across public and private sector organisations on the appropriate security measures which should be taken to manage potential security risks via UAS technologies, including drones. In line with existing guidance, the NPCC Drones Programme is currently undertaking a review on the data and security risk implications associated with police use of drones.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance she has issued on the merits of drones versus police helicopters.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office provided £10.6m to NPAS in FY2025/26. In addition, the Home Office has committed £34.5m to NPAS to support the replacement of 7 helicopters. For further information on annual grant information for NPAS, the Government via the Cabinet Office is committed to publish grant data on an annual basis for schemes and programmes that are funded by the Government, including the NPAS Capital Grant. This can be accessed on the Cabinet Office website under 'Government grant data and statistics'.

The procurement, operational deployment and recording of data on police use of drones and crewed aircraft are operational matters for police forces, who are best placed to assess their own operational needs while ensuring they have the tools necessary to protect the public. The Home Office does not hold information on the proportion of drones registered by the CAA.

The Home Office is currently funding and supporting the work of the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s (NPCC) Drones Programme, who were allocated £2.3m in FY2025/26. The programme is responsible for standardising and professionalising the use of drones across UK police forces. This includes developing a bespoke training and accreditation pathway for police drone operators as well as working with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to provide the necessary oversight on the safety aspects of police drone operations.

Drones and helicopters are complimentary to one another, not interchangeable. Drones are valuable for close‑range, localised tasks, but may not always replace the speed, persistence, capacity and safety assurance of a helicopter. However, this is subject to ongoing research and analysis, continuously evolving as technology advances.

The Home Office is currently working with NPAS and the NPCC Drones Programme to assess, compare and evaluate the benefits and cost-effectiveness of crewed and uncrewed technologies for operational policing and how this will support development of a future blended fleet model for police aviation, in line with the NPCC Aviation Strategy (2025-2035).

In addition, the Government takes national and cyber security extremely seriously and regularly reviews risks, including from Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) which includes drones. The National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) have issued guidance for security professionals across public and private sector organisations on the appropriate security measures which should be taken to manage potential security risks via UAS technologies, including drones. In line with existing guidance, the NPCC Drones Programme is currently undertaking a review on the data and security risk implications associated with police use of drones.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what (a) training and (b) certification (i) police drone operators and (ii) drone operators in general are required to undertake.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office provided £10.6m to NPAS in FY2025/26. In addition, the Home Office has committed £34.5m to NPAS to support the replacement of 7 helicopters. For further information on annual grant information for NPAS, the Government via the Cabinet Office is committed to publish grant data on an annual basis for schemes and programmes that are funded by the Government, including the NPAS Capital Grant. This can be accessed on the Cabinet Office website under 'Government grant data and statistics'.

The procurement, operational deployment and recording of data on police use of drones and crewed aircraft are operational matters for police forces, who are best placed to assess their own operational needs while ensuring they have the tools necessary to protect the public. The Home Office does not hold information on the proportion of drones registered by the CAA.

The Home Office is currently funding and supporting the work of the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s (NPCC) Drones Programme, who were allocated £2.3m in FY2025/26. The programme is responsible for standardising and professionalising the use of drones across UK police forces. This includes developing a bespoke training and accreditation pathway for police drone operators as well as working with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to provide the necessary oversight on the safety aspects of police drone operations.

Drones and helicopters are complimentary to one another, not interchangeable. Drones are valuable for close‑range, localised tasks, but may not always replace the speed, persistence, capacity and safety assurance of a helicopter. However, this is subject to ongoing research and analysis, continuously evolving as technology advances.

The Home Office is currently working with NPAS and the NPCC Drones Programme to assess, compare and evaluate the benefits and cost-effectiveness of crewed and uncrewed technologies for operational policing and how this will support development of a future blended fleet model for police aviation, in line with the NPCC Aviation Strategy (2025-2035).

In addition, the Government takes national and cyber security extremely seriously and regularly reviews risks, including from Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) which includes drones. The National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) have issued guidance for security professionals across public and private sector organisations on the appropriate security measures which should be taken to manage potential security risks via UAS technologies, including drones. In line with existing guidance, the NPCC Drones Programme is currently undertaking a review on the data and security risk implications associated with police use of drones.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police missions were carried out by (a) drone and (b) crewed aircraft in each of the last 10 years.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office provided £10.6m to NPAS in FY2025/26. In addition, the Home Office has committed £34.5m to NPAS to support the replacement of 7 helicopters. For further information on annual grant information for NPAS, the Government via the Cabinet Office is committed to publish grant data on an annual basis for schemes and programmes that are funded by the Government, including the NPAS Capital Grant. This can be accessed on the Cabinet Office website under 'Government grant data and statistics'.

The procurement, operational deployment and recording of data on police use of drones and crewed aircraft are operational matters for police forces, who are best placed to assess their own operational needs while ensuring they have the tools necessary to protect the public. The Home Office does not hold information on the proportion of drones registered by the CAA.

The Home Office is currently funding and supporting the work of the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s (NPCC) Drones Programme, who were allocated £2.3m in FY2025/26. The programme is responsible for standardising and professionalising the use of drones across UK police forces. This includes developing a bespoke training and accreditation pathway for police drone operators as well as working with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to provide the necessary oversight on the safety aspects of police drone operations.

Drones and helicopters are complimentary to one another, not interchangeable. Drones are valuable for close‑range, localised tasks, but may not always replace the speed, persistence, capacity and safety assurance of a helicopter. However, this is subject to ongoing research and analysis, continuously evolving as technology advances.

The Home Office is currently working with NPAS and the NPCC Drones Programme to assess, compare and evaluate the benefits and cost-effectiveness of crewed and uncrewed technologies for operational policing and how this will support development of a future blended fleet model for police aviation, in line with the NPCC Aviation Strategy (2025-2035).

In addition, the Government takes national and cyber security extremely seriously and regularly reviews risks, including from Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) which includes drones. The National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) have issued guidance for security professionals across public and private sector organisations on the appropriate security measures which should be taken to manage potential security risks via UAS technologies, including drones. In line with existing guidance, the NPCC Drones Programme is currently undertaking a review on the data and security risk implications associated with police use of drones.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the annual budget of the National Police Air Service was in each year for which records are available.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office provided £10.6m to NPAS in FY2025/26. In addition, the Home Office has committed £34.5m to NPAS to support the replacement of 7 helicopters. For further information on annual grant information for NPAS, the Government via the Cabinet Office is committed to publish grant data on an annual basis for schemes and programmes that are funded by the Government, including the NPAS Capital Grant. This can be accessed on the Cabinet Office website under 'Government grant data and statistics'.

The procurement, operational deployment and recording of data on police use of drones and crewed aircraft are operational matters for police forces, who are best placed to assess their own operational needs while ensuring they have the tools necessary to protect the public. The Home Office does not hold information on the proportion of drones registered by the CAA.

The Home Office is currently funding and supporting the work of the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s (NPCC) Drones Programme, who were allocated £2.3m in FY2025/26. The programme is responsible for standardising and professionalising the use of drones across UK police forces. This includes developing a bespoke training and accreditation pathway for police drone operators as well as working with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to provide the necessary oversight on the safety aspects of police drone operations.

Drones and helicopters are complimentary to one another, not interchangeable. Drones are valuable for close‑range, localised tasks, but may not always replace the speed, persistence, capacity and safety assurance of a helicopter. However, this is subject to ongoing research and analysis, continuously evolving as technology advances.

The Home Office is currently working with NPAS and the NPCC Drones Programme to assess, compare and evaluate the benefits and cost-effectiveness of crewed and uncrewed technologies for operational policing and how this will support development of a future blended fleet model for police aviation, in line with the NPCC Aviation Strategy (2025-2035).

In addition, the Government takes national and cyber security extremely seriously and regularly reviews risks, including from Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) which includes drones. The National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) have issued guidance for security professionals across public and private sector organisations on the appropriate security measures which should be taken to manage potential security risks via UAS technologies, including drones. In line with existing guidance, the NPCC Drones Programme is currently undertaking a review on the data and security risk implications associated with police use of drones.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the cost was of the National Police Air Service Eurocopter programme.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office provided £10.6m to NPAS in FY2025/26. In addition, the Home Office has committed £34.5m to NPAS to support the replacement of 7 helicopters. For further information on annual grant information for NPAS, the Government via the Cabinet Office is committed to publish grant data on an annual basis for schemes and programmes that are funded by the Government, including the NPAS Capital Grant. This can be accessed on the Cabinet Office website under 'Government grant data and statistics'.

The procurement, operational deployment and recording of data on police use of drones and crewed aircraft are operational matters for police forces, who are best placed to assess their own operational needs while ensuring they have the tools necessary to protect the public. The Home Office does not hold information on the proportion of drones registered by the CAA.

The Home Office is currently funding and supporting the work of the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s (NPCC) Drones Programme, who were allocated £2.3m in FY2025/26. The programme is responsible for standardising and professionalising the use of drones across UK police forces. This includes developing a bespoke training and accreditation pathway for police drone operators as well as working with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to provide the necessary oversight on the safety aspects of police drone operations.

Drones and helicopters are complimentary to one another, not interchangeable. Drones are valuable for close‑range, localised tasks, but may not always replace the speed, persistence, capacity and safety assurance of a helicopter. However, this is subject to ongoing research and analysis, continuously evolving as technology advances.

The Home Office is currently working with NPAS and the NPCC Drones Programme to assess, compare and evaluate the benefits and cost-effectiveness of crewed and uncrewed technologies for operational policing and how this will support development of a future blended fleet model for police aviation, in line with the NPCC Aviation Strategy (2025-2035).

In addition, the Government takes national and cyber security extremely seriously and regularly reviews risks, including from Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) which includes drones. The National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) have issued guidance for security professionals across public and private sector organisations on the appropriate security measures which should be taken to manage potential security risks via UAS technologies, including drones. In line with existing guidance, the NPCC Drones Programme is currently undertaking a review on the data and security risk implications associated with police use of drones.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what tasks crewed police helicopters can do that drones cannot.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office provided £10.6m to NPAS in FY2025/26. In addition, the Home Office has committed £34.5m to NPAS to support the replacement of 7 helicopters. For further information on annual grant information for NPAS, the Government via the Cabinet Office is committed to publish grant data on an annual basis for schemes and programmes that are funded by the Government, including the NPAS Capital Grant. This can be accessed on the Cabinet Office website under 'Government grant data and statistics'.

The procurement, operational deployment and recording of data on police use of drones and crewed aircraft are operational matters for police forces, who are best placed to assess their own operational needs while ensuring they have the tools necessary to protect the public. The Home Office does not hold information on the proportion of drones registered by the CAA.

The Home Office is currently funding and supporting the work of the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s (NPCC) Drones Programme, who were allocated £2.3m in FY2025/26. The programme is responsible for standardising and professionalising the use of drones across UK police forces. This includes developing a bespoke training and accreditation pathway for police drone operators as well as working with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to provide the necessary oversight on the safety aspects of police drone operations.

Drones and helicopters are complimentary to one another, not interchangeable. Drones are valuable for close‑range, localised tasks, but may not always replace the speed, persistence, capacity and safety assurance of a helicopter. However, this is subject to ongoing research and analysis, continuously evolving as technology advances.

The Home Office is currently working with NPAS and the NPCC Drones Programme to assess, compare and evaluate the benefits and cost-effectiveness of crewed and uncrewed technologies for operational policing and how this will support development of a future blended fleet model for police aviation, in line with the NPCC Aviation Strategy (2025-2035).

In addition, the Government takes national and cyber security extremely seriously and regularly reviews risks, including from Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) which includes drones. The National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) have issued guidance for security professionals across public and private sector organisations on the appropriate security measures which should be taken to manage potential security risks via UAS technologies, including drones. In line with existing guidance, the NPCC Drones Programme is currently undertaking a review on the data and security risk implications associated with police use of drones.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 24 March (HL15443), what steps HM Treasury has taken in the last year to meet its legal duty to keep under review the question of when uncommenced legislation that falls within its area of responsibility should be brought into force.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Treasury keeps legislation under review considering operational readiness, Cabinet Office guidance and wider priorities. Policy teams monitor provisions that have not been commenced and consider when to bring forward commencement orders, drawing on legal and legislative advice where needed. The department remains in regular contact with Parliament to undertake required post-legislative scrutiny, including consideration of measures not yet commenced.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 2 December to Question 93395 on Defence, what recent progress he has made on implementing the national conversation on defence and security.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

The Ministry of Defence continues to work closely with the Cabinet Office and wider Government Departments, contributing towards cross-Government efforts to increase public awareness and resilience to the most serious risks we face, including conflict scenarios.

This is supported by the Prime Minister’s comments at a recent Liaison Committee Oral evidence session, highlighting the Government’s commitment to bringing both industry and the wider public into the critical conversations needed to enable national readiness.

Found: Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency Maroš Šefčovič and HM Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Found: its Crown Copyright information. 4.4.8 Section 45 of FOIA Requires the Minister for the Cabinet Office

Found: The Minister for the Cabinet Office (Minister for the Constitution and European Union Relations) has

Found: or stakeholder pension scheme Travel and subsistence Communication and marketing (subject to cabinet office

Found: Cabinet Office guidance on due diligence in government grants can be found here.Section 1 - Organisation

Found: State for Wales Northern Ireland Office Department for Culture, Media and Sport HM Treasury (HMT) Cabinet Office

Found: Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006, equivalent statutory transfer schemes, or the Cabinet Office

Found: The Minister for the Cabinet Office has overall responsibility for EU relations policy.

Found: • Contacted the Office for the Impact Economy, which is a new team in the Cabinet Office, to guide you

Found: Britain and Northern Ireland ‘Funded by UK Government branding manual’ first published by the Cabinet Office

Found: The current GCA was appointed following an open competition in accordance with Cabinet Office guidelines

Found: must be mindful of, and act in accordance with, the specific HM Treasury delegated limits and Cabinet Office

Found: must be mindful of, and act in accordance with, the specific HM Treasury delegated limits and Cabinet Office

Found: must be mindful of, and act in accordance with, the specific HM Treasury delegated limits and Cabinet Office

Found: must be mindful of, and act in accordance with, the specific HM Treasury delegated limits and Cabinet Office

Found: addition, you must be mindful of, and act in accordance with, the specific HMT delegated limits and Cabinet Office

Found: must be mindful of, and act in accordance with, the specific HM Treasury delegated limits and Cabinet Office

Found: Information on these controls can be found here: Cabinet Office controls. 18.

Found: must be mindful of, and act in accordance with, the specific HM Treasury delegated limits and Cabinet Office

Found: must be mindful of, and act in accordance with, the specific HM Treasury delegated limits and Cabinet Office

Found: must be mindful of, and act in accordance with, the specific HM Treasury delegated limits and Cabinet Office

Found: must be mindful of, and act in accordance with, the specific HM Treasury delegated limits and Cabinet Office

Found: must be mindful of, and act in accordance with, the specific HM Treasury delegated limits and Cabinet Office

Found: you must be mindful of, and act in accordance with, the specific Treasury delegated limits and Cabinet Office

Found: must be mindful of, and act in accordance with, the specific HM Treasury delegated limits and Cabinet Office

Found: must be mindful of, and act in accordance with, the specific HM Treasury delegated limits and Cabinet Office

Found: must be mindful of, and act in accordance with, the specific HM Treasury delegated limits and Cabinet Office

Found: must be mindful of, and act in accordance with, the specific HM Treasury delegated limits and Cabinet Office

Found: must be mindful of, and act in accordance with, the specific HM Treasury delegated limits and Cabinet Office

Found: must be mindful of, and act in accordance with, the specific HM Treasury delegated limits and Cabinet Office

Found: Fusion Industry Association (FIA), FIA Responds to Japan’s Cabinet Office on the “Basic Approach to

Found: Yours sincerely, Dan Jarvis MBE MP Security Minister Cabinet Office and Home Office

Found: have been made in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments published by the Cabinet Office

Found: All applications should be submitted online where possible on the Cabinet Office website at: https://

Found: That same year, he also became Lead Non-Executive Member of the Cabinet Office Board.

Found: departments covering the Department for Business and Trade, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), Home Office, Cabinet Office

Found: its Crown Copyright information. 4.4.8 Section 45 of FOIA Requires the Minister for the Cabinet Office

Found: establishments. 1.3 This policy and guidance is a MOD supplement to GovS 007: Security (issued by the Cabinet Office

Found: IBCA and the Cabinet Office have launched a new route to raise any concerns about the design or delivery

Found: Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006, equivalent statutory transfer schemes, or the Cabinet Office

Found: Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006, equivalent statutory transfer schemes, or the Cabinet Office

Found: Cabinet Office (2021), 100 Days Mission to Respond to Future Pandemic Threats - GOV.UK. 37.

Found: UKDI has launched a new Themed Competition: Biosecurity Frontiers Run on behalf of the Cabinet Office

Found: enquiries regarding this publication should be sent to us at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/contact-the-cabinet-office

Found: statement (Environment Agency 2019a) and the government’s published consultation principles (Cabinet office

Found: In July 2025, the Infected Blood Inquiry recommended that IBCA and Cabinet Office create

Found: Fusion Industry Association (FIA), FIA Responds to Japan’s Cabinet Office on the “Basic Approach to

Found: Yours sincerely, Dan Jarvis MBE MP Security Minister Cabinet Office and Home Office

Found: That same year, he also became Lead Non-Executive Member of the Cabinet Office Board.

Found: organisations and charity representatives per roundtable ● Members of the TEG ● Cabinet Office

Found: Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP Minister for the Cabinet Office His

Found: The Minister for the Cabinet Office established an Infected Blood Compensation Scheme Technical Expert

Found: to review the responses of the consultation using analysis from the Cabinet Office

Found: Nick Thomas-Symonds MP Minister for the Cabinet Office His Majesty’s Paymaster General

Found: organisations and charity representatives per roundtable ● Members of the TEG ● Cabinet Office

Found: organisations and charity representatives per roundtable ● Members of the TEG ● Cabinet Office

Found: review the responses of the consultation using early analysis from the Cabinet Office

Found: The Wallace Collection follows the policy issued by the Cabinet Office on the employment of disabled

Found: departments covering the Department for Business and Trade, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), Home Office, Cabinet Office

Found: • Reporting on Secondments to the Cabinet Office when requested.

Found: Council sits on the Steering Group for the third national pilot, working with the UK Government’s Cabinet Office