Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 2 February (HL13762), what progress they have made in the arm's length bodies review; when they expect that review to be completed; and when they will publish its findings.

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

I refer the Noble Lady to my answer to HL13762.:

Question:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 19 January (HL13276), when the arm's length bodies (ALB) review will be completed; and whether its findings will be published.

Answer:

The review is ongoing. Outcomes will be communicated in due course.

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 col489), what is their current policy on (1) ministerial, (2) special adviser, and (3) civil service, engagement with Labour Together.

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

The Ministerial Code sets out the standards of conduct expected of Ministers and how they discharge their duties, including meeting with any external organisations.

Any external engagement by special advisers must adhere to the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers. Similarly, any external engagement undertaken by civil servants must adhere to the Civil Service Code.

Guidance on the declaration and publication of external engagement undertaken by ministers, senior officials and special advisers is available on gov.uk at the following links:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministers-overseas-travel-and-meetings-publication-guidance/ministers-overseas-travel-and-meetings-publication-guidance

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/696fa38cf6aa424b452e339a/2024_04_02-Special-Advisers-Transparency-Guidance.pdf

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/696fa4ac2b64f0e8c32e33b2/2024_04_02-Senior-Officials-Transparency-Guidance.pdf.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 5 February (HL13975), and in light of the statutory prohibitions under section 8(5)(b) of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 on exercising any power in relation to the management of any part of the civil service, why Jonathan Powell is listed as management on the Cabinet Office website.

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

The National Security Adviser sets direction on behalf of the Prime Minister for national security and foreign policy in the National Security Secretariat. Some leadership and corporate responsibilities, such as the line management of civil servants, accounting or matters affecting a civil servant’s career (including recruitment, promotion, reward and discipline), are not carried out by the National Security Adviser.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 9 March (HL14751), what resources, guidance or similar they provide to departments to support their legal duty to keep under review the question of when uncommenced legislation should be brought into force; and what reporting mechanisms they use to ensure that that duty is being met.

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

Each Government department is responsible for ensuring that this duty is met, including monitoring, reporting and guidance.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 9 March (HL14751), and the remarks by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage on 5 March (HL Deb col 585GC), what steps they are taking to ensure that departments are resourced to meet their legal duty to keep under review the question of when uncommenced legislation should be brought into force.

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

Each Government department is responsible for ensuring adequate resourcing to keep uncommenced legislation under review.

Found: Letter dated 24/03/2026 from Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent to Baroness Finn, Lord Bellingham, Lord