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Written Question
Members: Correspondence
Friday 17th October 2025

Asked by: Ben Spencer (Conservative - Runnymede and Weybridge)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to respond to correspondence dated (a) 5 March 2025, (b) 13 May 2025 and (c) 11 June 2025 from the hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge, case reference BS35623.

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

The Government is committed to transparency and accountability, including through clear and timely responses to correspondence. I can confirm that your letter to the then-Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster dated 5 March, and subsequent emails of 13 May and 11 June, have been passed to me as the Minister responsible for this policy, and I have replied to your letter. Please accept my apologies for the delay.


Written Question
National Armaments Director: Recruitment
Friday 17th October 2025

Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the value was of the contract awarded by his Department to Korn Ferry for the recruitment of the National Armaments Director.

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

The competition was supported by Kornferry: details of the contract award and value are available here: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/be88f513-c01a-4620-89f9-1cb2cc686895 and here Executive & Non-Executive Recruitment Services - CCS


Written Question
Political Parties: Conferences
Friday 17th October 2025

Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether any civil servants in his Department have been granted authorisation to attend the (a) Labour, (b) Conservative, (c) Liberal Democrat, (d) Scottish National Party and (e) Reform party conference in a private capacity in 2025.

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

This information is not held centrally within the Cabinet Office.


Written Question
Poverty: Children
Friday 17th October 2025

Asked by: Lord Bishop of Leicester (Bishops - Bishops)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to publish the child poverty strategy.

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

This Government is determined to bring down child poverty. The Child Poverty Taskforce was established by the Prime Minister to develop an ambitious child poverty strategy to achieve this. The strategy will be published in the autumn.


Written Question
Cabinet Office: Written Questions
Friday 17th October 2025

Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to respond to Questions 75061 and 75064 on National Armaments Director: Recruitment.

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

A response for both questions has been issued here and here.


Written Question
Imports and Exports
Thursday 16th October 2025

Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the level of (a) exports and (b) imports trade (i) to the nearest billion pounds and (ii) by share with the (A) EU, (B) US and (C) rest of the world in the last period for which data is available.

Answered by Josh Simons - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Cabinet Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.


Written Question
Exports
Thursday 16th October 2025

Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the top 10 UK service export destinations were in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Answered by Josh Simons - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

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

A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 10th October is attached.


Written Question
Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration: Costs
Thursday 16th October 2025

Asked by: Lord Framlingham (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what were the running costs of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration in the first full year of operation following its establishment; what were the annual running costs for the latest year for which figures are available; and what has been the total cost since its inception.

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

The Government does not hold information on the running costs of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration which was established in 1967 and was superseded by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) in 1973. Information on the running costs of the PHSO are set out in its published annual reports and accounts. The running costs for the years for which the PHSO holds information are as follows:

Year:

Running Costs (£ million):

2004-2005

19,203

2005-2006

22,263

2006-2007

22,679

2007-2008

24,252

2008-2009

26,056

2009-2010

33,211

2010-2011

33,038

2011-2012

33,039

2012-2013

33,204

2013-2014

34,793

2014-2015

36,809

2015-2016

30,492

2016-2017

34,646

2017-2018

29,427

2018-2019

27,201

2019-2020

29,197

2020-2021

29,486

2021-2022

32,499

2022-2023

40,543

2023-2024

42,032

2024-2025

41,513


Written Question
UK Internal Trade: Northern Ireland
Thursday 16th October 2025

Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Specialised Committee on the Implementation of the Windsor Framework: Joint Statement, 2 October 2025, what the pending issues are that the Committee agreed to make progress on at high pace.

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

The Government regularly engages with the EU on the Windsor Framework, which it is implementing on an ongoing basis in line with its manifesto commitment to doing so and its commitment to the UK internal market. UK/EU Specialised Committee meetings are conducted in line with the confidentiality obligations set out in Annex VIII of the Withdrawal Agreement, with agendas being released in advance and a statement following the meeting at GOV.UK. Information is provided in the most recent statement of 2 October on the operational activity being undertaken in the areas of SPS and customs to support the smooth operation of the Windsor Framework, and the Government will continue to engage all relevant stakeholders as it moves forward.


Written Question
UK Internal Trade: Northern Ireland
Thursday 16th October 2025

Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Specialised Committee on the Implementation of the Windsor Framework: Joint Statement, 2 October 20255, if he will publish further detail on the significant work that remains to be undertaken to deliver in full the safeguards underpinning the flexibilities for the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

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

The Government regularly engages with the EU on the Windsor Framework, which it is implementing on an ongoing basis in line with its manifesto commitment to doing so and its commitment to the UK internal market. UK/EU Specialised Committee meetings are conducted in line with the confidentiality obligations set out in Annex VIII of the Withdrawal Agreement, with agendas being released in advance and a statement following the meeting at GOV.UK. Information is provided in the most recent statement of 2 October on the operational activity being undertaken in the areas of SPS and customs to support the smooth operation of the Windsor Framework, and the Government will continue to engage all relevant stakeholders as it moves forward.