Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 17 February 2026 to Question 110807 on Hannah Bronwin, when his Department plans to publish her entry on the Announcements: Direct Ministerial Appointments portal.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
All entries can be found on the Direct Ministerial Appointments portal.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to provide an answer to Question 111932.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
I refer the Hon Member to the answer given on 4th March, Official Report, PQ 111932.
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 publications entitled No10 special advisers hospitality, October to December 2024 and No10 special advisers hospitality, January to March 2025, updated 27 March and 26 June 2025, whether clients of Global Counsel attended the dinners with Matthew Doyle and Global Counsel on (a) 3 October 2024 and (b) 19 February 2025.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Code of Conduct for Special Advisers requires special advisers to declare details of hospitality received.
The Special Advisers’ Transparency Guidance available on GOV.UK provides further details of requirements for reporting of gifts, hospitality, and meetings with senior media figures.
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 transparency data entitled Cabinet Office special advisers hospitality, January to March 2025, published on 26 June 2025, who attended the Global Counsel (a) dinner on 27 February and (b) drinks on 20 January 2025.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Code of Conduct for Special Advisers requires special advisers to declare details of hospitality received.
The Special Advisers’ Transparency Guidance available on GOV.UK provides further details of requirements for reporting of gifts, hospitality, and meetings with senior media figures.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Direct Ministerial Appointments can be seconded from third party organisations, and what arrangements govern how secondees are paid.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The government published its Guidance on Making Direct Ministerial Appointments at the following link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6902476e3650bacb01af7091/Guidance_on_Making_Direct_Ministerial_Appointments__October_2025_.pdf.
There is precedent from previous administrations for Direct Ministerial Appointments to work on secondment. Remuneration arrangements are at the discretion of and with the agreement of the relevant Accounting Officer.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Jonathan Powell was involved in the appointment of Lord Mandelson as Ambassador to the United States.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
I refer the Hon. Member to the Government's response to the Urgent Question tabled on 12th February, and the Written Ministerial Statement in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister that same day, which set out an update on the Government's process. We will set out further details in due course. The Government wishes to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the oral contribution of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister in response to the question from the hon. Member for Huntingdon of 9 February 2026, Official Report, column 583, if he will set out the vetting process that was followed for the appointment of Peter Mandelson as UK Ambassador to the United States.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
I refer you to the Government's response to the Urgent Question tabled on 12th February, and the Written Ministerial Statement, and the Oral Statement on the 23rd February, in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister that same day, which set out an update on the Government's process. We will set out further details in due course. The Government wishes to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
Asked by: Viscount Stansgate (Labour - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to publish an updated edition of the Cabinet Manual.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
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, what is the maximum amount of time an individual can remain on a Reserve List for a Senior Civil Service job without having to re-apply with full open and fair competition.
Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
As per the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles, where a competition identifies more appointable candidates than there are available vacancies, a reserve list may be created. This can be used for up to 12 months to fill the same role or other similar roles with closely matching essential criteria. With approval from the Commission, a reserve list can be extended by up to eight weeks.
Asked by: Ellie Chowns (Green Party - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether informal notes were taken of the meeting at Palantir HQ that was attended by Peter Mandelson, the Prime Minister, the chief executive of Palantir and the Head of Palantir Technologies UK and that took place on 27 February 2025.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
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.