Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government which Arms Length Bodies have been shut down as a result of the ALB Review launched in April 2025.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Arm’s Length Bodies (ALB) review, launched in April 2025, is an ongoing, multi-phase programme designed to ensure public bodies provide value for money, eliminate duplication, and remain directly accountable to Ministers and Parliament.
Since the announcement of the review on 7 April 2025, the following bodies have been abolished or merged, with their essential functions either absorbed into other ALBs, repatriated to parent departments, or ceased where no longer required:
Valuation Office Agency (HM Revenue and Customs) – Dissolved as a standalone executive agency in April 2025 (functions integrated into HMRC)
Infrastructure and Projects Authority (Cabinet Office/HM Treasury) – Closed and replaced by the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority, also incorporating the functions of the National Infrastructure Commission, in April 2025
Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Department for Education) – Closed June 2025
Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Cabinet Office) – Closed October 2025
Committee on Standards in Public Life (Cabinet Office) – Merged into the Ethics and Integrity Commission in October 2025
Scientific Advisory Committee on the Medical Implications of Less-Lethal Weapons (Ministry of Defence) – Closed November 2025
Building Digital UK (Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) – Repatriated into the former DSIT in November 2025
Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) – Reclassified as an expert committee in November 2025
Committee on Fuel Poverty (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) – Reclassified as an expert committee in November 2025.
Independent Medical Expert Group (Ministry of Defence) – Reclassified as Expert Committee in December 2025
LocatED (Department for Education) – Repatriated into DfE in April 2026
UK Space Agency (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) – Repatriated to the former DSIT in April 2026
Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (Home Office) – Abolished, functions transferred to the Fair Work Agency in April 2026
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what guidance is followed when an official incorrectly reports the theft of a Cabinet Office-provided phone.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
When an official's Cabinet Office-provided phone is stolen, they are required to report the theft to the department, and asked to report the theft to the Police.
If the phone was then found or retrieved for any reason, the case would be reviewed in line with the Cabinet Office’s Security Breach Policy, and IT Acceptable Use Policy.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the average cost of (1) drafting a Government bill, and (2) its passage through Parliament.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Captain of the King's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The drafting and passage of a Government bill requires resource from a number of departmental teams including legal and policy officials as well as shared resource such as the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.
Each Government Bill requires a different amount of resource based on its size and complexity. The Guide to Making Legislation sets out that bill teams must be properly resourced, with a dedicated bill manager, separate to the policy team, in place to oversee progress from an early stage.
In addition, the passage of Government bills requires resource in both the House of Commons and House of Lords.
Government does not hold data on the average number of people required to, nor the cost of, producing and passing Government bills.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the speech by the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister on 20 January, what the budget will be for the new National School of Government and Public Services.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Captain of the King's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The National School of Government and Public Services will be part of the Cabinet Office. Its annual budget will be defined through normal Cabinet Office processes with any relevant information published as part of the Cabinet Office annual report and accounts. The creation of the National School is expected to deliver efficiency savings of between ÂŁ4m-ÂŁ15m across the spending review period 2026-29.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the speech by the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister on 20 January, whether external recruitment will take place for the new taskforces modelled on the Vaccine Taskforce.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Captain of the King's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)
Taskforces focus on Prime Ministerial priorities and will remove obstacles to delivery, drawing on lessons from the Vaccine Taskforce and other relevant examples.
They will have the freedom to hire the best talent from within the civil service at pace and expedited approvals for short-term appointments of external expertise.
Departmental Ministers will be accountable for their policy areas as now and will have a direct line to the top of government in Number 10, the Cabinet Office, and the Treasury to help support delivery.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the speech by the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister on 20 January, whether the budgets for the new taskforces modelled on the Vaccine Taskforce will come from existing budgets; and how many new taskforces will be created.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Captain of the King's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)
Number 10 and the Cabinet Office are continuing to work together and with departments to consider a range of options for Taskforces across the Prime Minister’s priorities, and will determine how many will be created.
They will be funded from existing budgets with prioritised business case approvals and increased delegated authority limits, if necessary, from the Treasury.
Departmental Ministers will remain accountable for their policy areas and will have a direct line to the top of government in Number 10, the Cabinet Office, and the Treasury to help support delivery.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when discussions with the European Union about UK participation in the Erasmus+ programme beyond 2028 will commence.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Captain of the King's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The UK and European Commission have reached an agreement in principle for the UK’s association to Erasmus+ in 2027. The Government’s immediate focus is to work to maximise take-up across all sectors so that the benefits of Erasmus+ association in 2027 can be fully realised.
Going forward, any continued UK participation in Erasmus+ under the next Multiannual Financial Framework will be informed by our experience of association in 2027 and will be based on a fair and balanced contribution. Discussions on any future association would commence closer to the time.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how much has been spent on external contractors by the New Media Unit since its inception.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Captain of the King's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)
Please refer to the table below for spend by the New Media Unit on third party suppliers, from 1 November 2024 to 13 November 2025.
Suppliers | Spend (ÂŁ) |
OmniGov - MG OMD | 2,668,702.00 |
Pablo Unlimited | 733,512.93 |
The New Media unit includes employees from grade AO to SCS1 and the headcount is 28 FTE.
The New Media Unit is not currently recruiting.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the New Media Unit is fully staffed, and if not, whether further recruitment is planned to the unit.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Captain of the King's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)
Please refer to the table below for spend by the New Media Unit on third party suppliers, from 1 November 2024 to 13 November 2025.
Suppliers | Spend (ÂŁ) |
OmniGov - MG OMD | 2,668,702.00 |
Pablo Unlimited | 733,512.93 |
The New Media unit includes employees from grade AO to SCS1 and the headcount is 28 FTE.
The New Media Unit is not currently recruiting.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what are the grades of the employees of the New Media Unit.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Captain of the King's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)
Please refer to the table below for spend by the New Media Unit on third party suppliers, from 1 November 2024 to 13 November 2025.
Suppliers | Spend (ÂŁ) |
OmniGov - MG OMD | 2,668,702.00 |
Pablo Unlimited | 733,512.93 |
The New Media unit includes employees from grade AO to SCS1 and the headcount is 28 FTE.
The New Media Unit is not currently recruiting.