Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 81328 on Prime Minister: Information Officers, whether the Special Adviser has provided information on financial interests in Strand Partners.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 20 October 2025, Official Report, PQ 81328.
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Prime Minister plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar dated 29 November 2024.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The correspondence referred to the resignation of the Rt Hon Member for Sheffield Heeley in November 2024. The Prime Minister has addressed this matter in the House and set out that, subsequent to her appointment as Secretary of State for Transport, further information emerged and that it was right for the former Transport Secretary to resign.
The public exchange of letters is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/louise-haighs-resignation-letter-and-the-prime-ministers-response-29-november-2024
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his Department's policy is on making payments to the EU for (a) participation in and (b) access to the (i) Security Action for Europe instrument and (ii) common Sanitary and Phytosanitary area.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The UK is committed to a broad and constructive relationship with the EU, and we are working together to implement the package agreed at the UK-EU Summit. We will only agree deals that provide value to the UK and UK industry and any contributions will be agreed as part of ongoing negotiations. Nothing has been agreed, and we will not give a running commentary on talks.
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on what matters the Prime Minister has recused himself.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
This Government has strengthened the Ministerial Code. Decisions relating to recusals are made with advice from the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards.
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has made a recent assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the threat level of the (a) Chinese Government and (b) Chinese Communist Party.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
This Government recognises that China poses a series of threats to UK national security - from cyber-attacks, foreign interference and espionage targeting our democratic institutions, to transnational repression of Hong Kongers. We are also alive to the fact that China presents the UK with opportunities as the world’s second largest economy and - together with Hong Kong - the UK’s third largest trading partner. We will continue to develop a consistent and pragmatic approach to economic engagement without compromising on our national security.
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether any information in the files obtained by Bloomberg relating to Jeffrey Epstein and Lord Mandelson was not previously disclosed during the due diligence process.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
I refer the Hon Member to the response of the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, in the Emergency Debate on this topic on 16 September (Volume 772, Columns 1384-1391).
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Government press release entitled Internship Scheme To Get More Working Class Students Into Civil Service, published on 1 August 2025, whether children of Hon. Members will be able to apply for the Summer Internship Programme in 2026.
Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
As we set out in August, we will be opening our Fast Stream Summer Internship Programme exclusively for undergraduates from lower socio-economic backgrounds for 2026. We will determine eligibility based on parental occupation at age 14 in line with guidance from the Social Mobility Commission and the Office for National Statistics definition.
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his planned timetable is for updating the webpage entitled Salaries of members of His Majesty's Government on gov.uk.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Salary entitlements for ministers are set out by the Ministerial and other Salaries Act 1975.
The Prime Minister has maintained the pay freeze for ministers who continue to claim a lower salary to their entitlement under law, as per the salary amounts listed on GOV.uk. GOV.UK will be updated in due course.
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister has any line management responsibilities for (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers in 10 Downing Street; and whether the (i) responsibilities and (ii) remit of the Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister have changed since the appointment of the Chief Secretary.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
It would not be appropriate to comment on staffing matters or individuals’ remits and responsibilities.
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 11 July 2025, to Question 64830, on Civil Service: Equality, whether his Department has consulted trade unions in relation to planned updates to the Guidance for Civil Service Staff Networks.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
National trade unions have had the opportunity to provide feedback during the development of the Staff Network Policy.