Question to the Cabinet Office:

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.

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

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 whether their response to the Humble Address on 4 February regarding Lord Mandelson will make redactions on grounds other than matters likely to prejudice international relations or national security; whether other exemptions similar to those under the Freedom of Information Act will be applied; and whether there is guidance to officials which sets out what information is and is not in scope of the response to the Humble Address.

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

I refer the Noble Lady to the Government's response to the Urgent Question tabled on 12th February (Hansard Volume 853, Column 364), the Written Ministerial Statement in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister that same day (HLWS1344), and the Oral Statement on the 23 February (repeated on 24th February, Hansard Volume 853, Column 494), which sets 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.

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 14 January (HC102820), in what circumstances visits by the Prime Minister to offices of external organisations which are not foreign governments are not required to be listed in the list of ministerial meetings; and whether the Prime Minister had discussions with representatives of (1) Palantir, and (2) Global Counsel, relating to government businesses during his visit to their offices in Washington with Lord Mandelson on 27 February 2025.

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

To clarify, it was not a meeting, and so minutes were not taken, therefore no reward was made.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 24 February (HC113702), what is the public interest reasoning for not providing to Parliament the internal guidance on the change from the default branding from HM Government to UK Government.

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

The guidance is part of routine internal government communications and administrative advice. Its release could inhibit the free and frank provision of internal advice and exchange of views within government.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, in regard to the Civil Service Summer Internship Programme, how is the main household earner determined for an applicant who spent an equal amount of time with two households with different socio-economic backgrounds in the case of separation or divorce at the time the applicant was 14 years old; and whether the applicant is able to choose which household to nominate in that instance.

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

We require candidates to list the ‘main household earner’ using the ONS definition. In cases where a candidate had multiple households we advise candidates to use the ‘main householder earner’ in the household that best reflects their circumstances.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 6 February (HL14054), what definition of a woman they use in relation to (1) the Women, Peace and Security programmes set out in UK–EU security and defence partnership, published on 19 May 2025, (2) the Health Security programmes set out in UK-EU Summit: Common Understanding, published on 19 May 2025, (3) the PEACEPLUS Ireland–Northern Ireland/UK programme, and (4) initiatives supporting women under Erasmus+.

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

None of the programmes or initiatives referred to include such a definition. Delivery partners are responsible for implementing the overall aims and objectives of each programme or initiative in line with the legal frameworks and obligations that apply in the jurisdictions in which they operate.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government for what reason the Prime Minister has an active TikTok account in the light of the TikTok ban on government electronic devices.

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

All Government departments must follow the Mobile Device Management policy. This directs that no third-party mobile application can be downloaded onto Government devices, unless security requirements can be met and there is a business case for doing so.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Consultation principles: guidance, last updated March 2018, what supplementary advice or guidance has been given by the Cabinet Office to departments on whether consultations should give any material weight to responses from organisations or individuals which are deemed extremist or otherwise, or which are subject to a policy of non-engagement under the Government’s engagement principles; and what is the Cabinet Office’s departmental policy on this.

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

Responsibility for decisions and due diligence around who departments engage with sits with those departments and the appropriate policy areas. It is for individual government departments to decide to use these principles, or their own due diligence processes around engagement.

I refer the Noble Lady to PQ HC105789:

Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he will take steps to prevent organisations with which the Government has a policy of non-engagement from submitting written evidence to (a) ministers, (b) officials and (c) public consultations.

Answer: The government does not and will not engage with organisations with whom they have a policy of non-engagement.