Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the Explanatory Memorandum on European Commission Work programme for 2026, published on 17 November, what assessment they have made of the impact the "Buy European Food" campaign will have on the export of UK foods, and how that campaign complies with EU–UK treaties.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The UK and the EU are each other’s largest agrifood trade partners. In 2024, 57% (£14.1bn) of UK agri-food exports were to EU countries and 72% (£45.5bn) of UK agri-food imports were from EU countries. This trade is critical to the UK economy and food security.

The government is negotiating a Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement to make agrifood trade with our biggest market cheaper and easier, cutting costs and red tape for British producers and retailers.

The GREAT food and drink campaign, led by Defra, has been successfully promoting UK food and drink exports products globally under UK government’s GREAT Campaign brand since 2017.

The department awaits further details of the EU’s “Buy European Food” campaign, expected in 2026.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to paragraph 3 of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers, published in September 2024, whether the Prime Minister's chief of staff has been authorised by the Prime Minister to represent the views of the Prime Minister to the media.

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

All special advisers are bound by the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers. The Code of Conduct for Special Advisers sets out special adviser's obligations with regards to the media.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the government of China or its planning agents have submitted the full unredacted internal drawings for the proposed Chinese embassy.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Planning Inspector's Report was received by the Department on 10 June.

Following careful analysis of the report, the Secretary of State referred back to parties on a number of matters, including the redacted drawings, on 6 August. The reference back process is on-going.

Full reasons for the decision and a list of post-inquiry representations will be set out in the final decision letter.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State for Housing and Planning on 28 October (HC83342), and with regard to the guidance Entertainment Resort Complex, Bedford: Handling Arrangements, published on 9 October, what is the rationale for the difference in approaches to publishing the name of the designated Planning Minister prior to the planning decision.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

In dealing with the applications, Ministers and officials will act in accordance with published propriety guidance on planning casework decisions. More information on this can be seen here (attached): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/planning-propriety-issues-guidance

Handling arrangements are published where they are required in specific cases to ensure that Ministers or officials with any role in promoting planning proposals are explicitly excluded from the planning decision-making process. That does not apply in the case of the Chinese Embassy.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether Lord Mandelson has received, or will receive, a severance payment in relation to his role as UK Ambassador to the USA.

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

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided in the House of Commons on 25 November in response to Question 91398, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below:

Lord Mandelson's withdrawal was subject to normal HR processes within the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by the Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office on 4 November (HC85501) and Lord True on 23 April 2021 (HL14191), and with regard to paragraph 1.6(d) of the Ministerial Code, what is the public interest argument for not releasing details to Parliament of public spending on the Downing Street flats.

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

As was the case under successive administrations, an itemised list is not routinely published. Total expenditure from the Prime Minister’s allowance on their official residence is disclosed in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government which public body holds the current cash equivalent transfer value of the pension scheme established under the Pensions Increase (Pension Scheme for Keir Starmer QC) Regulations 2013; and which public body holds details on the individual benefits of that scheme available to the scheme's member.

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

Information about this Pension Scheme, including a calculation of the cash equivalent transfer value, was included in the Crown Prosecution Service's annual report and accounts for 2013-14. The Pension Scheme is managed by the Cabinet Office, and details of individual benefits are held by Capita, the Scheme Administrator (the cash equivalent transfer value is calculated only when required). There has been no change to the policy under the last Administration not to publish information about civil servants' individual pensions apart from in the remuneration reports contained in departmental annual reports and accounts.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Answer by the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 25 November (HC91373), whether guidance has been given informally to special advisers through cross-government special adviser meetings about (1) including, or (2) excluding, information on email or other corporate communications.

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

There is guidance in place when it comes to the use of non-corporate communications channels, available on gov.uk.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the Public Appointments Data Report 2024/25, published on 2 December, whether they plan to set targets for the number of public appointments based on social class.

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

The government is committed to ensuring that public appointments are more representative of our nations and regions and will set out its approach in due course.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government why the Director General of the Propriety and Constitution Group has been removed from the 'our management' section of the Cabinet Office website homepage; and whether that position has been downgraded.

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

The Director General, Propriety and Constitution group remains a SCS3 civil service post. The Cabinet Office gov.uk page will be updated in due course.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government on what dates calls have been held between the government and corporate lobbyists since 4 July 2024; which lobbying firms joined those calls; and which ministers have joined those calls.

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

Details of Ministers and Senior Officials' meetings, including those held using video or audio-conferencing technology, and including phone calls where these replace or take the format of an official meeting, are published by departments on GOV.UK every quarter.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the legal basis for the Prime Minister's occupation of his residence in Downing Street.

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

The registered legal title of Downing Street is held in the name of the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, as has been the case under successive governments. Under all recent governments this accommodation is allocated to the Prime Minister.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many freedom of information requests the Government Art Collection has received asking for details of the works currently displayed in departments since 4 July 2024; and whether the information was (1) refused, or (2) disclosed, in each of those cases.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

All Freedom of Information requests are considered on their individual merits in accordance with the relevant legislation.