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.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Minister without Portfolio on 2 December 2025 (HC94697), whether the appointment of the current Director General of the Propriety, Ethics and Constitution Group was a level move or temporary promotion; and whether a Minister approved the appointment without open and fair competition.

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

The appointment of the current DG Propriety, Ethics and Constitution Group is a temporary promotion. Interim arrangements do not usually require ministerial approval. A recruitment campaign will be launched in due course.

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