Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when Ministerial private office records are transferred to National Archives; and whether some files are retained by the Department.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Cabinet Office Records Selection Policy under the Public Records Act 1958 is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cabinet-office-records-selection-policy/cabinet-office-records-selection-policy-html#:~:text=The%20Cabinet%20Office%20Records%20Selection,selection%20of%20historic%20public%20records.
At the time of transfer to The National Archives, redactions can be made by the application of FOI exemptions that persist beyond 20 years or by provision of Section 3(4) of the Public Records Act. Any closures or retentions are made clear either within the open file or on The National Archives catalogue, which is available on line.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason he has made it his policy to re-join the Erasmus scheme.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The UK and European Commission have reached an agreement in principle for the UK’s association to Erasmus+ in 2027. This builds on the foundations of the UK and EU’s new strategic partnership agreed at the UK-EU Summit in May 2025.
The benefits of our association are clear. It opens up world class opportunities for students, teachers, youth workers, sport-sector professionals, and communities of all ages in our education, training, sport and youth sectors.
It is an investment in opportunity for our young people, our workforce and our future, opening doors for tens of thousands across the UK.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish Government Communication Service guidelines for influencer and content creator marketing.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to questions 103788, 103791 and 103792.
Asked by: Lizzi Collinge (Labour - Morecambe and Lunesdale)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of adjusting lump-sum compensation payments under the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme to reflect inflation where payments are delayed for several years.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Individuals applying for compensation from IBCA have the choice between receiving their award as a single lump sum payment, or as a series of periodical payments over a 5, 10, or 25 year period. The compensation scheme indexes all future periodical payments to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to ensure that these payments hold value against inflation and provide parity between applicants that choose a lump sum or periodical payments.
The Government has consulted on proposed changes to the infected blood compensation scheme, to gather views on how the Government intends to implement the Inquiry’s recommendations. The consultation closed on 22 January. The Government is considering the responses to the consultation carefully, and we will publish our response to the consultation, which will set out our final decisions on the compensation scheme, within 12 weeks of the closing date.
The delivery of compensation is a matter for IBCA, and as of 10 February, 3,153 people have received an offer of compensation, totalling over £2.5 billion. IBCA has now opened its service to the people who are infected but not registered with an IBSS, as well as to the first claims from affected people and from estates on behalf of deceased infected people.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent progress he has made on updating the Cabinet Manual.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Government takes the function of the Cabinet Manual seriously and we will keep it under review.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the policy paper entitled Explanatory Memorandum on a UK/EU Withdrawal Agreement or Trade And Cooperation Agreement Governance Document, COM(2025)804, published on 4 February 2026, for what reason the Government proposes to make payments to help reduce economic and social disparities in the EU.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Explanatory Memorandum considers a proposal by the European Commission to the European Council to open negotiations with the UK on an electricity agreement and on “the financial contribution of the United Kingdom towards reducing economic and social disparities between the regions of the Union”. It does not represent a proposal by the Government. In line with the outcome from exploratory talks on an electricity agreement, we are prepared to make an appropriate financial contribution to support the relevant costs associated with the European Union’s work in this policy area, for example to access EU agencies or databases. The details of any contribution are subject to negotiation.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether No10 special advisers have auto-delete functionality turned on for (a) corporate and (b) non-corporate communication devices when discussing government business.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Corporate communications channels have auto-delete functionality enabled. Any government business that needs to be recorded must be copied onto the official systems. The policy covering non-corporate communication channels is published on gov.uk, available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/non-corporate-communication-channels-for-government-business/using-non-corporate-communication-channels-eg-whatsapp-private-email-sms-for-government-business-html
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment has been made on whether social media influencers paid for by the government are using the “paid partnership” tag on their content; and whether they state that the partnership is with the UK Government.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Influencers are subject to the Advertising Standards Authority.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to make reductions to the size of the Government Communication Service.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
To ensure we deliver value for money for the taxpayer, the Government Communication Service continuously assesses the size of its communication teams, to ensure effectiveness and efficiency.
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2026 to Question 110416 on Government Departments: Publicity, if he will publish the revised branding guidance.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
There are currently no plans to publish this guidance.