Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to extending Sunday trading hours.

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

The government is not currently planning to make changes to Sunday trading rules.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government which officials of the government of China Jonathan Powell has met during his term as National Security Adviser; and whether they will publish a summary of the content of those meetings.

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

The government has a clear and consistent policy not to comment on any of the National Security Adviser’s meetings with external parties, for obvious reasons to protect sensitive information pertaining to this country’s national security. This has been the case under successive governments.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what moving costs they incurred as a result of the former Deputy Prime Minister vacating the residence in Admiralty House, including a breakdown of those costs.

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

No moving costs have been incurred by the Government.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government who the current and previous occupants of grace-and-favour accommodation under the present government have been, including the dates they moved in and out.

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

Since 5 July 2024, official residences have been allocated as follows:

• Chequers - the Prime Minister (ongoing).

• 11 Downing Street - the Prime Minister (ongoing).

• 10 Downing Street - the Chancellor of the Exchequer (ongoing).

• Dorneywood - the Chancellor of the Exchequer (ongoing).

• Chevening - the former Foreign Secretary the Rt Hon David Lammy MP was allocated Chevening following the General Election. Following the appointment of a new Foreign Secretary in September 2025, the Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP has been allocated Chevening.

• 1 Carlton Gardens - the former Foreign Secretary the Rt Hon David Lammy MP was allocated 1 Carlton Gardens following the General Election and this remains allocated to him as Deputy Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor.

• Hillsborough Castle - available for ministers in the Northern Ireland Office while on duty in Northern Ireland (ongoing).

• Admiralty House, Flat 2. This was allocated to the Defence Secretary on a short-term basis between 9 September 2024 and 4 November 2024. Following this, it was allocated to the former Deputy Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP.

The former Deputy Prime Minister’s move in process commenced on 12 December 2024 and the flat is now vacant following the resignation of the former occupant.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government which meetings the Secretary of State for Business and Trade attended during his trip to China in September.

Answered by Lord Stockwood - Minister of State (HM Treasury)

In September, the Secretary of State met with China’s economic Vice Premier He Lifeng, co-chaired the Joint Economic and Trade Commission with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, and co-chaired the Industrial Cooperation Dialogue with Industrial Minister Li Lecheng. He also held meetings and briefings with UK officials, UK businesses and Chinese automotive and retail investors Geely, Chery, and JD.Com. He discussed challenges in the bilateral relationship with counterparts, including level playing-field issues that undermine fair competition for UK business. He raised concerns on national and economic security issues. The visit pushed forward market access outcomes worth over £1 billion over 5 years.

Further information published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/secretary-of-state-for-business-and-trade-visit-to-china-factsheet/secretary-of-state-for-business-and-trade-visit-to-china-factsheet

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the UK-China Trade in Services Working Group in November will be held in the UK; what is the budget for that event; and who is expected to attend from the UK Government and the government of China.

Answered by Lord Stockwood - Minister of State (HM Treasury)

The UK-China Trade in Services Working Group will be held in Beijing, and led by a Director-level senior official from the UK Department for Business and Trade and China’s Ministry of Commerce. The size of the UK team will depend on the agenda and programme negotiated with the Chinese side, taking into account Value for Money and in line with the Civil Service Code. As set out in official guidance, the costs of the event will be in line with accommodation and subsistence expense rates for official travel to Beijing.

Further information can be found on the government website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/expenses-rates-for-employees-travelling-outside-the-uk#countries-a-to-c

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what were the total severance payments made to (1) ministers, and (2) special advisers, who left government in the past 12 months; and what was the total amount of those payments.

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

The cost of severance payments for Ministers is not held centrally by the Cabinet Office as individual departments are responsible for administering severance payments to their Ministers.

The cost of severance payments for special advisers between 1st April 2024 and 31st March 2025 was £3.1 million.