Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Major Projects Annual Report 2025 to 2026, Tables, Falcon Programme Departmental Commentary on Delivery Confidence Assessment Rating of AMBER, what progress has she made in improving the programme’s and its partners’ current responsiveness to change.

Answered by Sally Jameson - Parliamentary Secretary and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Falcon programme is currently in its pilot phase, which includes three business units. Key technical aspects of the pilot are expected to be completed by Christmas, followed by a wider Cabinet Office rollout starting in January, which will allow benefits to be realized as each business unit transitions.

The programme’s future service model has been designed and will be tested during the pilot, which is scheduled to conclude by 31st March 2027. Regarding governance, the programme has refined and matured its change control and governance processes, enabling faster identification, assessment, and decision-making.

A revised Programme Business Case is underway, with work initiated in late August and is scheduled for submission in November. This document will include both a rebaselined benefits position and rebaselined costs extending to December 2027.

In relation to testing, defects identified during prepilot testing required significant remediation before the programme could pass through its pilot entry gateway review. Subsequent remediations were successfully planned and executed, enabling the programme to proceed through a following gateway review.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Major Projects Annual Report 2025 to 2026, Tables, Falcon Programme Departmental Commentary on Delivery Confidence Assessment Rating of AMBER, by when will she define the future operating model and support processes.

Answered by Sally Jameson - Parliamentary Secretary and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Falcon programme is currently in its pilot phase, which includes three business units. Key technical aspects of the pilot are expected to be completed by Christmas, followed by a wider Cabinet Office rollout starting in January, which will allow benefits to be realized as each business unit transitions.

The programme’s future service model has been designed and will be tested during the pilot, which is scheduled to conclude by 31st March 2027. Regarding governance, the programme has refined and matured its change control and governance processes, enabling faster identification, assessment, and decision-making.

A revised Programme Business Case is underway, with work initiated in late August and is scheduled for submission in November. This document will include both a rebaselined benefits position and rebaselined costs extending to December 2027.

In relation to testing, defects identified during prepilot testing required significant remediation before the programme could pass through its pilot entry gateway review. Subsequent remediations were successfully planned and executed, enabling the programme to proceed through a following gateway review.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Major Projects Annual Report 2025 to 2026, Tables, Falcon Programme benefits narrative, whether the revision of the programme business case to rebaseline the benefit position over a 5 year period has been completed.

Answered by Sally Jameson - Parliamentary Secretary and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Falcon programme is currently in its pilot phase, which includes three business units. Key technical aspects of the pilot are expected to be completed by Christmas, followed by a wider Cabinet Office rollout starting in January, which will allow benefits to be realized as each business unit transitions.

The programme’s future service model has been designed and will be tested during the pilot, which is scheduled to conclude by 31st March 2027. Regarding governance, the programme has refined and matured its change control and governance processes, enabling faster identification, assessment, and decision-making.

A revised Programme Business Case is underway, with work initiated in late August and is scheduled for submission in November. This document will include both a rebaselined benefits position and rebaselined costs extending to December 2027.

In relation to testing, defects identified during prepilot testing required significant remediation before the programme could pass through its pilot entry gateway review. Subsequent remediations were successfully planned and executed, enabling the programme to proceed through a following gateway review.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Major Projects Annual Report 2025 to 2026, Tables, Falcon Programme schedule narrative, for what reason did platform testing in prepilot require replanning.

Answered by Sally Jameson - Parliamentary Secretary and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Falcon programme is currently in its pilot phase, which includes three business units. Key technical aspects of the pilot are expected to be completed by Christmas, followed by a wider Cabinet Office rollout starting in January, which will allow benefits to be realized as each business unit transitions.

The programme’s future service model has been designed and will be tested during the pilot, which is scheduled to conclude by 31st March 2027. Regarding governance, the programme has refined and matured its change control and governance processes, enabling faster identification, assessment, and decision-making.

A revised Programme Business Case is underway, with work initiated in late August and is scheduled for submission in November. This document will include both a rebaselined benefits position and rebaselined costs extending to December 2027.

In relation to testing, defects identified during prepilot testing required significant remediation before the programme could pass through its pilot entry gateway review. Subsequent remediations were successfully planned and executed, enabling the programme to proceed through a following gateway review.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 21 October 2025, to question 79592 on Cabinet Office: ICT, what progress has she made in saving £20 million of public money via the Falcon programme.

Answered by Sally Jameson - Parliamentary Secretary and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Falcon programme is currently in its pilot phase, which includes three business units. Key technical aspects of the pilot are expected to be completed by Christmas, followed by a wider Cabinet Office rollout starting in January, which will allow benefits to be realized as each business unit transitions.

The programme’s future service model has been designed and will be tested during the pilot, which is scheduled to conclude by 31st March 2027. Regarding governance, the programme has refined and matured its change control and governance processes, enabling faster identification, assessment, and decision-making.

A revised Programme Business Case is underway, with work initiated in late August and is scheduled for submission in November. This document will include both a rebaselined benefits position and rebaselined costs extending to December 2027.

In relation to testing, defects identified during prepilot testing required significant remediation before the programme could pass through its pilot entry gateway review. Subsequent remediations were successfully planned and executed, enabling the programme to proceed through a following gateway review.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2026 to question 23001 on Armed Forces: Housing, what the breakdown by year is of the allocation of funding for Defence family housing.

Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)

The Defence Investment Plan (DIP) confirms previous commitments to provide £9.2 billion over the next decade to deliver the Defence Housing Strategy and a generational renewal of military family housing.

The DIP also detailed £2.7 billion spending on Service Family Accommodation in Financial Years (FY) 2026-27 to 2029-30

Funding for FY 2026-27 has been confirmed as £502 million. The funding profiles beyond FY 2026-27 will be agreed as part of the Departments financial planning process and will be further iterated through the annual Strategic Planning Cycle.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2026 to Question 22921 on Defence Academy, which leaders from FTSE 100 Companies have been invited to attend the Defence Academy.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

The Defence Academy has invited FTSE 100 and wider Defence-relevant industry leaders to attend appropriate courses. Recent attendance has included leaders from BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce and Babcock International.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Major Projects Annual Report 2025 to 2026, Tables, Falcon Programme schedule narrative, whether there is a cost o the programme’s of delaying the completion date from December 2026 to December 2027.

Answered by Sally Jameson - Parliamentary Secretary and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Falcon programme is currently in its pilot phase, which includes three business units. Key technical aspects of the pilot are expected to be completed by Christmas, followed by a wider Cabinet Office rollout starting in January, which will allow benefits to be realized as each business unit transitions.

The programme’s future service model has been designed and will be tested during the pilot, which is scheduled to conclude by 31st March 2027. Regarding governance, the programme has refined and matured its change control and governance processes, enabling faster identification, assessment, and decision-making.

A revised Programme Business Case is underway, with work initiated in late August and is scheduled for submission in November. This document will include both a rebaselined benefits position and rebaselined costs extending to December 2027.

In relation to testing, defects identified during prepilot testing required significant remediation before the programme could pass through its pilot entry gateway review. Subsequent remediations were successfully planned and executed, enabling the programme to proceed through a following gateway review.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2026 to question 23355 on Drugs: Research, how much of the £2 million is allocated to each project.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 28 August 2026 to Question UIN 20034 Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 3.1.19 of the Defence Investment Plan, published on 30 June 2026, by when does he plan to deliver a national conversation campaign on defence and security in order to (a) raise public awareness of the threats to the UK, (b) how Defence deters and protects against them and (c) why Defence requires support to strengthen the nation’s resilience.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

The National Conversation is a programme of public engagement led by the Cabinet Office as part of the Home Defence Programme. Delivery is already underway and will continue through 2027.

Defence is supporting this work through planned public engagement activities and a coherent programme of communications. These have been designed to improve understanding of the threats facing the UK, explain the role of Defence in deterrence and national resilience, and encourage practical participation by individuals, communities and employers.

Defence also works with the Cabinet Office to deliver the public facing National Risk Register (NRR), (updated in July 2026), and the internal National Security Risk Assessment which informs the Government’s assessment of the likelihood and potential impact of a broad range of risks that may directly affect the UK and its interests. The NRR demonstrates publicly what the Government is doing to plan against these risks and raises public awareness of the threats enabling a whole of society approach to strengthening the nation’s resilience. Defence is also supporting the upcoming Cabinet Office-led national resilience public awareness campaign, announced in the Annual Statement on National Resilience delivered to Parliament on July 14, 2026.

Success will be measured by increased public preparedness, participation and resilience. Government messaging on defence and security will continue to build ahead of ALBISTON SHADOW, a major UK Home Defence exercise, and NATO’s Crisis Management Exercise in spring 2027.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's annual report and accounts 2025 to 2026, what was the specific nature of the £1,349,000 constructive loss of the Cyber Resilience Programme.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

The £1.349 million constructive loss relates to seven undeployed cyber security appliances procured under the Cyber Resilience Programme.

Subsequent reassessment of demand and the supplier's confirmation of the equipment's end of service date meant the assets could no longer be deployed, had no alternative operational use or resale value, and were therefore written off and disposed of in accordance with Departmental accounting policy.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the 2025 Strategic Defence Review, whether he has given the Defence Academy and other Defence centres of training and educational excellence commercial freedoms to operate by lifting the restriction that only irreducible spare capacity can be offered externally, as outlined in Recommendation 26.

Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)

The Government is committed to delivering the Strategic Defence Review's ambition to strengthen collaboration between Defence and industry through education and training. Existing arrangements remain in place pending the conclusion of that work.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 17 July 2026 to question 14519 on USA: Armed Forces, what discussions has her department held with the Ministry of Defence regarding the details of this case.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)

Following this case, the Home Office and other departments including the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Defence, and Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office have met regularly to consider the wider issues raised by cases involving members of visiting forces and UK victims. This includes the application and operation of jurisdictional arrangements under the Visiting Forces Act 1952 (VFA) and how these are implemented across the criminal justice system.

As discussions are ongoing, it would be inappropriate to share any further details at this stage. However, the Chair of the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) has already written to all Chief Constables in England and Wales to remind forces of their responsibilities under the VFA. The NPCC is also considering whether further formal guidance for police forces is required.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2026, to question 27061 on Defence: Finance, what public spending has been reprioritised within the £10.3 billion.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The UK faces rising threats, and the government is responding by boosting defence spending. The £10.3 billion of funding for the Defence Investment Plan has primarily been secured by reallocating capital budgets from across government to the MOD.

This includes a 1% top-slice of departmental capital budgets, additional reductions to Department for Transport and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spending, proceeds from asset sales, and the transfer of certain risks from the Ministry of Defence to HM Treasury.

A detailed breakdown of these measures is set out in the Defence Investment Plan Funding explainer.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Major Projects Annual Report 2025 to 2026, Tables, East Coast Digital Programme, what are the 19 recommendations made by the NISTA Review Team.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority reviews of individual projects are used internally within government, and their detailed findings are not generally published. However, I can confirm that the review of the East Coast Digital Programme made a number of recommendations covering the Programme’s governance and programme communications, commercial arrangements, risk management and financial planning processes, freight business change agreements, programme re-baselining and benefits strategy update.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether it remains her Department’s policy to use Palantir within the Federated Data Platform programme.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The supplier contract will be reviewed in line with standard contract management processes and the outcome will be announced in the normal way in due course.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Answer of 4 June 2026 to Question 5356 on Wes Streeting: Redundancy Pay, if she will take steps to publish details of the ministerial severance payment received by the former Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, the Rt Hon Member for Ilford North, before the publication of the Department’s annual report and accounts.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

As has been the practice under successive governments, details of any ministerial severance payments are routinely published in the Department’s annual report and accounts for the financial year in question.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health Innovation and Safety, the Hon Member for Birmingham Edgbaston, received a ministerial severance payment upon leaving Government.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

As has been the practice under successive governments, details of any ministerial severance payments are routinely published in the Department’s annual report and accounts for the financial year in question.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2026, to question 23157 on Hinchingbrooke Hospital, by what date will the business case for the land acquisition go to the Department’s Joint Investment Committee for approval.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Further to the answer provided on 8 September to Question 23157, the Hinchingbrooke’s land acquisition business case was approved with conditions by the Department’s Joint Investment Committee on 9 September 2026. The trust will need to confirm completion of these conditions before final approval is provided.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress has she made in delivering the Future NHS Workforce Solution Transformation programme.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

In October 2025, the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) awarded a £1.2 billion contract to Infosys to deliver a new and enhanced workforce management solution for the National Health Service, with further information available at the following link:

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhsbsa-awards-contract-deliver-new-workforce-management-solution-nhs

Further information on the NHS PeoplePortal Transformation Programme is on the NHSBSA website, at the following link:

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-peopleportal-transformation-programme

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2026, to question 23177 on East West Rail Line, what progress has he made on the delivery of Tempsford Railway Station and what stage is the project currently at.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

East West Rail Company consulted on proposals for Tempsford station in its Spring consultation which closed on 9 June. The company is considering feedback to this and is currently progressing design work as part of preparation for its Development Consent Order application in 2027.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 4 September 2026 to question 23389 on Agriculture: Reservoirs, by when she plans to open a further round of the Water Management Grant.

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

Defra has recently announced that we are reopening the Water Management Grant, with up to £15m available to help farmers build on-farm reservoirs so they can store more water to irrigate crops and be better protected against dry conditions in future. Defra plans to open the grant later this autumn and will provide more details on the application process closer to the launch.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what funding is available for provision of a new community based dialysis treatment centre within the Huntingdon constituency a) during and b) following the rebuild of Hinchingbrooke Hospital.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS Central East Integrated Care Board will continue to work with NHS England and the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, as the renal dialysis service provider at Hinchingbrooke Hospital, to ensure that there are fit for purpose facilities to meet expected levels of demand. The current service location will remain at Hinchingbrooke Hospital whilst this work is undertaken.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many Units of Dental Activity have been subject to clawback within the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough ICB over the past three years.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The requested data is not centrally held.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent progress has she made in implementing a single patient record system across the NHS.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Health Bill before Parliament will provide the legislative framework for the Single Patient Record. The programme is developing the technical and delivery approach, working with healthcare professionals, patients, the public, National Health Service providers, and suppliers. Initial work is focused on a Core Record and early priority areas, including maternity and frailty, as part of a phased approach to implementation.

The detailed scope and sequencing, including access for primary care dentistry, are still being developed, and no specific date has yet been set. The programme will engage dental professionals and relevant system suppliers as requirements and implementation plans are confirmed.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the 2025 Strategic Defence Review, what progress has he made in deploying Headquarters Standing Joint Command (UK) to lead wider efforts to reconnect Defence with society, as part of a whole-of-society approach to deterrence and defence, as outlined in Recommendation 44.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to question 22962 on the 8 September 2026.

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-08-28/22962

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what information his Department holds on whether UKDI achieved its operating capability on 1 July 2026.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

I refer the hon. Menber to the answer given to question 21689 on the 8 September 2026.

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-08-28/21689

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Major Projects Annual Report 2025 to 2026, Tables, Manchester Digital Campus, does the current end date of 17 December 2032 remain extant following the decision to include Number 10 North within the scope.

Answered by Sally Jameson - Parliamentary Secretary and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government)

While the Manchester Digital Campus represents a significant step in strengthening the Government presence in the North West, early media speculation regarding the integration of No10 North into this programme was incorrect. There are currently no plans to establish the No10 North office within the Manchester Digital Campus. The Manchester Digital Campus programme continues to progress as set out in the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Major Projects Annual Report 2025 to 2026. We continue to work toward the established end date of 17 December 2032, which remains unchanged.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Major Projects Annual Report 2025 to 2026, Tables, Manchester Digital Campus, whether the outline business case will be reviewed following the decision to include Number 10 North within the scope.

Answered by Sally Jameson - Parliamentary Secretary and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government)

While the Manchester Digital Campus represents a significant step in strengthening the Government presence in the North West, early media speculation regarding the integration of No10 North into this programme was incorrect. There are currently no plans to establish the No10 North office within the Manchester Digital Campus. Consequently, the outline business case will not be reviewed on this basis. The Manchester Digital Campus programme continues to progress as set out in the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Major Projects Annual Report 2025 to 2026.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's Annual Report and Accounts 2025-2026, HC 389, published on 15 July 2026, what the nature is of the fruitless payment for training activities linked to the Submarine Acquisition Programme.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The loss relates to the Dreadnought programme and covers payment for unproductive hours incurred by the contractor.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2026 to question 23339 on Fire and Rescue Services, what elements from the New Dimensions 2 programme to uplift and replace National Resilience assets will be allocated to Cambridgeshire.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The New Dimensions 2 programme is a comprehensive capital asset replacement programme to review, refresh and upgrade the National Resilience assets used by fire and rescue authorities in response to the largest and most complex incidents.

As part of the programme, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is replacing and updating the assets for the High Volume Pumping (HVP) capability, which is used in the response to wide-area flooding and large-scale fires.

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service currently host an HVP capability and, accordingly, will be receiving a range of new vehicles and equipment which will replace and upgrade their current assets.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's document entitled Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025, published on 4 November 2025, for what reason was there an Aged Debt Irrecoverable Pension Overpayment of £2,383,000.

Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)

No such figure appears in the referenced document.

However, in the interests of providing a more complete answer, officials were asked to consider if this figure had basis elsewhere and, after some searching, identified that the figure referred to in the question actually came from the Ministry of Defence Annual Report and Accounts 2025-2026 published on 15 July 2026.

The amount in question was a bulk write-off of irrecoverable War Pension Scheme (WPS) overpayments that were over six years old and fell outside the recoverable timeline by virtue of their age profile. There was no single or systemic cause of the overpayments which were often linked to changes in personal circumstances not promptly reported or identified.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the oral statement by the First Secretary of State on 2 September 2026, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of removing the defence exemption from social value.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

We are determined to ensure we maximise every opportunity for public contracts to deliver the jobs, skills and opportunities needed to drive economic growth and prosperity in every postcode.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, the Hon Member for Bolsover, received a ministerial severance payment upon leaving Government.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Details of ministerial severance payments are published in the relevant department’s annual report and accounts.

As per 1.14 of the Ministerial Code, Ministers are expected to waive, on appointment, entitlement to a ministerial severance payment upon leaving office if they have served less than six months.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information her Department holds on the location of the personalised Look 795 bicycle presented to the Prime Minister as a gift by France.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Information about gifts and hospitality are made available on gov.uk on a monthly basis, available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/register-of-ministers-gifts-and-hospitality

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment has she made of the potential benefit of establishing a national care service.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

On 29 July, as set out in the link below, the Prime Minister set out the reasons why it is essential to reform the adult social care system and brought forward the timetable for Baroness Louise Casey’s independent commission to make recommendations on establishing a National Care Service:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-sets-out-new-path-to-fix-social-care-together-29-july-2026

We will continue to update Parliament on a regular basis.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people are employed in the Government Media Unit.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Cabinet Office is currently finalising the operational requirements of the Government Media Unit and we are actively recruiting for this new team.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people have been hired in the Government Media Unit since 20 July 2026.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Cabinet Office is currently finalising the operational requirements of the Government Media Unit and we are actively recruiting for this new team.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what contact did the former Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Member for Holborn and St Pancras, have with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles between April 2025 and July 2026.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

It would not be appropriate to comment on private conversations under the previous Prime Minister. Readouts of the Prime Minister’s conversations with foreign leaders are regularly published on gov.uk.