Asked by: Viscount Stansgate (Labour - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to reports that they have renamed their identification in formal communications from HM Government to UK Government, whether they still regard “His Majesty’s Government” as their proper name.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
For information relating to the use of “His Majesty’s Government”, I refer the Noble Viscount to Question HC112168:
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Prime Minister, as the King's principal adviser, (a) was consulted on and (b) approved the decision to change the HM Government identity to the UK Government; and whether the Prime Minister was advised by Tim Allan in this regard when Mr Allan was Executive Director of Communications. 112168
Answer: There are no plans to discontinue the use of “HM Government”.
Please refer to https://www.communications.gov.uk/guidance/marketing/branding-guidelines/ for guidance on logo use. There are no plans to publish the revised guidance held by the Government Digital Service and the Government Communication Service.
Communications teams are advised to use "UK Government" rather than departmental names and logos for announcements, to provide clarity to the public. This does not affect the use of "His Majesty's Government", which continues on relevant official communications and records.
"UK Government" has long been the term used for the government in public-facing communications. All governments have regularly reviewed and updated government branding guidance to ensure that communications with the public are clear.
This guidance was developed in consultation with relevant stakeholders and in accordance with standard protocols in Summer 2025.
Asked by: Viscount Stansgate (Labour - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to publish an updated edition of the Cabinet Manual.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government takes the function of the Cabinet Manual seriously and we will keep it under review.
Asked by: Viscount Stansgate (Labour - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to amend the Counsellors of State Act 2022.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Counsellors of State Act 2022 added two additional Members of the Royal Family to the list of those eligible to act as Counsellors of State in order to provide greater resilience in this aspect of our constitutional arrangements.
In practice, reflecting a commitment made during the passage of the Act, only working Members of the Royal Family are called upon to act as Counsellors of State.
The Government has no plans to amend the Counsellors of State Act 2022.
Asked by: Viscount Stansgate (Labour - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to amend the Titles Deprivation Act 1917.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Titles Deprivation Act 1917 authorised enemies of the United Kingdom to be deprived of their peerages during the First World War.
The Government has no plans to amend the Titles Deprivation Act 1917.
Asked by: Viscount Stansgate (Labour - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to bring legislation before Parliament to give effect to the decision of the King to remove all titles from Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Following the statement made by Buckingham Palace on 30 October, the entitlement to the title of ‘Prince’ and the style of ‘Royal Highness’ has been removed by Letters Patent. The title of the Duke of York has been removed from the Roll of the Peerage and will no longer be used officially. There is therefore no need for legislation to implement the measures that have been announced.
Asked by: Viscount Stansgate (Labour - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to publish an updated edition of the Cabinet Manual.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
As stated in the answer given on 24 February 2025 (HL4720), the Government takes the function of the Cabinet Manual seriously and we will keep it under review:
HL4720
Q: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to publish an updated edition of the Cabinet Manual.
A: The Government takes the function of the Cabinet Manual seriously and we will keep it under review.
Asked by: Viscount Stansgate (Labour - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to remove the restriction that renders Roman Catholics ineligible for consideration as a Counsellor of State.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
There are no plans to make any changes to the eligibility criteria for Counsellors of State.
Asked by: Viscount Stansgate (Labour - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to publish an updated edition of the Cabinet Manual.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government takes the function of the Cabinet Manual seriously and we will keep it under review.
Asked by: Viscount Stansgate (Labour - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they intend to publish an updated edition of the Cabinet Manual.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government is aware of the function of the Cabinet Manual and we will keep this under review.
Asked by: Viscount Stansgate (Labour - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to amend the Regency Act 1937.
Answered by Lord True - Shadow Leader of the House of Lords
The Government has no plans to amend the Regency Act.