Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 14 October 2025 (HL10630), why the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office did not contribute to the established process to collate relevant information as part of the identification and selection of the appointee for the role of Ambassador to the United States.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

I refer the Noble Baroness to the answer provided on 14 October 2025 to question HL10630.

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 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 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 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 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 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 Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the Horizon Shortfall Scheme Appeal contract with Addleshaw Goddard LLP, as listed in Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for government’s most important contracts: data for July to September 2025, published on 25 December 2025, why increasing the percentage of female partners by 2 per cent over the contract period is a KPI for delivery of that contract.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Under the 2020 Procurement Policy Note (since updated) departments must explicitly evaluate Social Value (SV) in most procurements above the relevant financial threshold, where it is related and proportionate to the contract, to ensure that public spending delivers wider economic, social and environmental benefits alongside the goods or services being purchased. The policy note also mandates an appropriate KPI.

The Government’s SV Model provided a menu of outcomes aligned to government priorities. The outcome selected was tackling inequality in the supplier’s workforce which included focus on women in shortlists for recruitment and promotions, with the chosen KPI aligning to that.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what was the formula and methodology used to calculate the severance payment of the former Cabinet Secretary Sir Chris Wormald.

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

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 His Majesty's Government why the severance payment to the former Cabinet Secretary Sir Chris Wormald required a Ministerial Direction but the severance payment to his predecessor Lord Case did not; and whether this was due to the amount paid.

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

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

The necessary approvals were given for payments made to Sir Chris Wormald and Lord Case, as set out in the Guidance on Public Sector Exit Payments.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office on 23 March (HC120374), what assessment they have made of any potential conflict of interest of Cabinet Office staff who produced briefing or advised on the due diligence regarding Lord Mandelson's appointment being involved in the selection, scoping and redaction of documentation released to Parliament for the Humble Address of 4 February; and who advises the Propriety and Constitution Group about the mitigation of any conflicts of interests about the actions of the group.

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

Staff from across the Cabinet Office including but not limited to the Public Inquiry Response Unit and the Propriety and Constitution Group are involved in compliance with the Humble Address motion as necessary, under the leadership of the Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary.

As set out in the Civil Service Code, all civil servants are expected to carry out their roles with dedication and a commitment to core values of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality.

Found: Letter dated 31/03/2026 from Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent to Baroness Finn regarding the draft