Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Ministers and special advisers have been asked to provide details of communications with Global Counsel to his Department as part of the (a) Government response to the Humble Address and (b) Cabinet Secretary’s review into Lord Mandelson.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The Government is committed to complying with the Humble Address. Departments have been instructed to retain and provide to the Cabinet Office all information that falls in scope of the Humble Address motion.

The former Cabinet Secretary was asked to review available information regarding Peter Mandelson’s contacts with Jeffrey Epstein during his period as a Minister. After an initial review of some documents, the matter was referred to the police. In light of the ongoing criminal investigation that was announced, that review has now been paused. The government is cooperating fully with the police investigation and providing any assistance required.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the current Cabinet Secretary was appointed from a Reserve List in Merit Order.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Cabinet Manual sets out that the Cabinet Secretary is appointed directly by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister receives advice from the First Civil Service Commissioner, but is the final decision maker.

As set out in the Gov.UK announcement of the Cabinet Secretary appointment, “the Prime Minister and the First Civil Service Commissioner agreed a process to appoint a new Cabinet Secretary”.

Once this process was complete, the First Civil Service Commissioner confirmed that “Dame Antonia Romeo is an exceptional candidate of the highest calibre, having run two of the largest operational departments in Government, and confirmed her track record makes her the right candidate for the role”. The PM appointed her on the 19th February.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the No10 press release of 12 February 2026 entitled The Prime Minister and Cabinet Secretary have agreed by mutual consent the Cabinet Secretary will stand down, which official will be responsible for (a) the Government response to the Humble Address and (b) the Cabinet Secretary’s review into Lord Mandelson.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

I refer you to the Oral Statement on the 23 February in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister which confirms that the Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary is leading this process.

The former Cabinet Secretary was asked to review available information regarding Peter Mandelson’s contacts with Jeffrey Epstein during his period as a Minister. After an initial review of some documents, the matter was referred to the police. In light of the ongoing criminal investigation that was announced, that review has now been paused. The government is cooperating fully with the police investigation and providing any assistance required.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Prime Minister was advised of the letter sent by Lord Glasman to Morgan McSweeney and Paul Ovenden on the appointment of Lord Mandelson as Ambassador to the United States.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the outgoing Cabinet Secretary was on a legacy Permanent Secretary contract.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Permanent Secretary model contract sets out the contractual details for all Permanent Secretaries including the Cabinet Secretary. A copy of the model contract has been placed in the House Library.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of whether Jeffery Epstein was (a) passing information to the Russian Government and (b) was otherwise compromised by Russian hostile actors.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

It would not be appropriate for the Government to comment on matters of intelligence or national security. It is the longstanding policy of government not to comment on such issues.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to paragraph 17 of the Civil Service Recruitment Framework, updated 2022, whether the appointment of a Senior Civil Servant SCS3 (a) on temporary promotion and (b) without open and fair competition requires Ministerial approval.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Appointments of existing civil servants on temporary promotion are internal moves and permissible within fair and open recruitment. Paragraph 17 of the Civil Service Recruitment Framework relates to permanent redeployment moves.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has approved an exit payment to the most recently departed Cabinet Secretary.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The necessary approvals were given, as set out in the Guidance on Public Sector Exit Payments.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Ethics and Integrity Commission plans to undertake a public consultation on the review into lobbying, disclosure and access to government.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The Ethics and Integrity Commission (EIC) is independent of the government. The EIC has set out further information about the review, including a call for evidence, on its website at the following link: https://eic.independent-commission.uk/what-we-do/reports-and-reviews/ It can be contacted at contact@eic.independent.gov.uk

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish applications made by Lord Mandelson to the Advisory Committee to Business Appointments between May 2010 and May 2012.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Information about historic Business Application Rules applications can be found on GOV.UK.

The 2010-2011 Advisory Committee to Business Appointments Annual Report can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7d965340f0b65084e76188/Twelfth_Annual_Report_2010-2011.pdf, and the 2011-2012 Annual Report can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a74e389ed915d3c7d528bcd/ACOBA_Thirteenth_Annual_Report_2011-12.pdf

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Cabinet Secretary was appointed on the advice of the retiring Cabinet Secretary.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

I refer to the Hon. Member to the Gov.uk announcement, “the Prime Minister and the First Civil Service Commissioner agreed on a process to appoint a new Cabinet Secretary.”

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Senior Civil Servants can be temporarily promoted without open and fair competition.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

SCS roles can be filled on a temporary basis through temporary promotions without fair and open competition. Cabinet Office issues guidance to departments and agencies, who have the authority to determine promotion and lateral transfer arrangements for their own staff.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what her Department's policy is on the retention of the confidential report on the Consul General to New York.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Cabinet Office Information and Records Policy stipulates that HR reports are destroyed after seven years.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Ministerial Direction of 16 February 2026, whether the outgoing Cabinet Secretary will receive an early termination exit payment based on the same methodology as the previous Cabinet Secretary, or whether the payment will exceed Civil Service Compensation Scheme terms.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Details of any payments made to the previous Cabinet Secretary will be published in the Cabinet Office Annual report and Accounts for 2025-26.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference 23 February 2026, Official Report, Column 29, on Labour Together and APCO Worldwide: Cabinet Office Review, whether the Government is able to appoint an independent KC to investigate a suspended Government Minister.

Answered by Chris Ward - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

I refer the Honorable Member to UIN HL15093.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards’ review into Labour Together is being assisted by the Propriety and Ethics Team.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Prime Minister asked officials in the Cabinet Office to establish the facts in relation to allegations about the conduct of the former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State jointly in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Cabinet Office, Josh Simons MP. Following completion of that work, the matter was referred to the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards. The Independent Adviser’s subsequent advice to the Prime Minister is published on gov.uk.

The Independent Adviser is independent of government.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the (a) sale and (b) marketing of meat-branded products that do not contain meat will be permitted under the proposed sanitary and phytosanitary deal with the EU; and whether other types of product may be banned.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

part of the UK-EU SPS Agreement currently being negotiated, the Government is making a sovereign choice in the national interest to align in some areas where it makes sense to do so, as set out in the Government’s recently published announcement on legislation in scope. This includes the marketing standards elements of Regulation (EU) 1308/201, which will apply to GB once the agreement is implemented.

The hon. Member refers to the EU’s draft legislation seeking to amend these rules, including proposals to prevent use of meat-related terms for the marketing of products which do not contain meat. This would not prevent these products being sold altogether, only how they are marketed for sale. Defra cannot speculate on what other products may be captured in scope of these proposals as they have not yet been adopted, but the department is monitoring their progress through the EU legislative process.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government will make payments to the European Union to participate in the Youth Mobility Scheme.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

We have agreed that we will work towards the establishment of a balanced youth experience scheme with the EU. This will provide a valuable form of cultural exchange for young Brits and EU citizens with the opportunity to travel, work, study and experience other cultures.

We have agreed that any scheme will be capped, subject to a visa requirement, as well as time-limited. We have been clear that the scheme should be in line with the UK’s existing schemes, such as Australia and New Zealand, but the exact parameters are subject to ongoing negotiation. This will not include financial contributions to the European Union - that is not how youth mobility schemes operate.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the consultation entitled Making public services work for you with your digital identity, of 10 March 2026, CP1498, whether there are circumstances in which private companies would have access to individual citizen’s data for payment of a fee.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The new digital ID system will help to personalise and join up public services. The UK has a strong set of data protection laws that will apply to this system, and robust enforcement of those laws. We won't be watering them down for this system and there are no circumstances in which the Government will sell the public’s digital ID data to private companies.

Found: no matter their background, without having to rely on personal wealth in lieu of a salary”.29 Alex Burghart