Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Autumn Budget 2025 made changes to efficiency savings required of departments in (a) 2025-26, (b) 2026-27 and (c) 2027-28.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

No changes were made to efficiency targets in 2025-26, 2026-27 or 2027-28.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 16 December 2025 to Question 98122, on Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Public Appointments, if she will list the annual remuneration of each of the current Direct Ministerial Appointments in post.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The names of special representatives, envoys and direct ministerial appointments are published on gov.uk at the time of their appointment.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the National Audit Office report, Lessons learned: the government’s use of external consultants, HC: 1381, 21 November 2025, Figure 10, what specific data is collected on Government spending by (a) Oxygen Finance and (b) Jaggaer Spend.

Answered by Chris Ward - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Since 2010, Central Government departments publish expenditure above £25,000 on a monthly basis. Oxygen Finance aggregates this transparency data to provide reports on spending by a particular department or category.

Jaggaer Spend relies on data generated by payments processed through public sector procurement systems, as opposed to published invoice data.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has determined the source of the leak of the policies within the Autumn Budget 2025 to the media.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

As the Chancellor set out to the Treasury Select Committee on 10/12/25, a leak inquiry is underway. In addition, the Permanent Secretary of the Treasury is conducting a wider review of Budget security, which he aims to conclude in advance of the Spring Statement.

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Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Business appointment rules return - September 2025, published on 16 December 2025, for what reason the former Director of Financial Services was given a six month lobbying ban.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Business Appointment rules are designed to uphold the core values in the Civil Service Code. The aim of the rules is that when a civil servant takes up an outside appointment or employment there should be no cause for justified public concern, criticism, or misinterpretation. These aims were considered in this case, and appropriate mitigations were put in place in line with standard HM Treasury practice and in accordance with the Business Appointment rules.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 2.1.2 of her Department’s policy paper entitled UK Government Green Financing Framework, published on 26 November 2025, for what reason facilities intended for the production of weapons grade nuclear material or for other primarily military uses are excluded; and what assessment she has made with the Secretary of State for Defence of the potential impact of this exclusion on the level of private sector participation in the Trident renewal programme.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Green Financing Framework, updated in 2025, explains how proceeds from green gilts and NS&I’s retail Green Savings Bonds will finance public expenditures that have the goal of delivering a direct and positive environmental impact.

Eligible expenditures are assessed on the basis of their contribution to the government’s climate and environmental objectives. Military nuclear spending, including the Trident renewal programme, is primarily for national defence purposes and as such is not eligible to be financed under the Framework. This exclusion is in line with international norms for green bond frameworks and enables the UK’s green gilts to be accessible to the greatest possible pool of investors, improving value-for-money.

The Green Financing Framework only applies to public expenditures and does not apply to private investment. Eligible expenditures are drawn from departments’ confirmed Spending Review settlements. There has been no rationale for HM Treasury and the Ministry of Defence to assess the potential impact on private sector participation in the Trident renewal programme.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will ask the Financial Conduct Authority to make an assessment of the adequacy of the (a) security and (b) stability of monies invested in the Tether cryptocurrency.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The government recognises that stablecoins stand to drive important innovation in payments and settlement, but like other financial instruments they also have the potential to cause consumer harm, especially if not properly regulated.

That is why the UK has worked closed with international partners through the Financial Stability Board to develop global standards for cryptoassets and stablecoin. It is also why the government is creating a comprehensive UK regulatory regime under the Financial Conduct Authority for cryptoassets, including to regulate the issuance of stablecoin.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 9 December 2025 to Question 95649 on Inflation, whether any public body undertakes assessments of the adequacy of GDP deflator forecasts.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Forecasts for the UK economy, including assessments of the impact of policy decisions, are the responsibility of the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).

The OBR publishes its forecast in the Economic and Fiscal Outlook (EFO). The OBR’s latest EFO can be found here: Economic and fiscal outlook – November 2025 - Office for Budget Responsibility. The OBR’s EFO includes a forecast of the GDP deflator.

The OBR is required to produce a Forecast Evaluation Report (FER) each year under the Budget Responsibility and National Audit Act (2011). The OBR is required to explain reasons for divergence between its forecasts and subsequent outturns, to support future forecast improvements.

The latest Forecast Evaluation Report can be found here: Forecast evaluation report 2025 - Office for Budget Responsibility . Evaluation of the GDP deflator can be found on pages 29-30.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people subscribed to (a) cash and (b) stocks and shares ISAs; and how many subscribed the maximum £20,000 in the latest year for which data is available.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

In the 2022 to 2023 tax year, 7.12 million people subscribed to a Cash ISA only, and 3.07 million people subscribed to a Stocks and Shares ISA only. 1.46 million individuals subscribed the full £20,000 to Cash ISAs, while 0.84 million individuals subscribed the maximum £20,000 to Stocks and Shares ISAs.

In 2022 to 2023, there were 0.74 million people who subscribed to both Cash and S&S ISAs, and 0.19 million of these dual‑subscribers subscribed the maximum £20,000.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 2 December 2025, to Question 94022, on Katie Martin, what her salary and grade is in the new role.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The position is unpaid.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether HMRC’s apps and website are accessible via the One Login system.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC customers currently access digital services via the GOV.UK website or via the HMRC app by logging in with their Government Gateway credentials.

HMRC will be transitioning its customers (individuals, agents and organisations) to GOV.UK One Login.

Once HMRC customers have transitioned to GOV.UK One Login they will be able to access their digital HMRC services in the same way they currently do (via the GOV.UK website or the HMRC app) using their GOV.UK One Login credential instead of Government Gateway.

More details on HMRC’s plans to transition to GOV.UK One Login can be found in HMRC’s Transformation Roadmap, published in July 2025: HMRC's Transformation Roadmap - GOV.UK

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will publish the names of the members of the Council of Economic Advisers, and state whether they are (a) civil servants, (b) special advisers or (c) direct ministerial appointments; and which are (i) paid and (ii) unpaid.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Chancellor’s Council of Economic Advisers consists of three paid Special Advisers — Neil Amin-Smith, Spencer Thompson and Emily Fry — and one paid direct ministerial appointee, David Sturrock.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the potential financial impact on overseas residents of the removal of Class 2 National Insurance Contributions in relation to their UK state pension entitlement.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The previous rules around voluntary National Insurance Contributions (NICs) allow those with a limited connection to the UK to build UK State Pension entitlement at a very cheap rate.

At Budget 2025 the Government took two immediate steps to fix the most unfair elements of these rules. From April 2026 we are removing most access to Class 2 voluntary NICs for periods abroad. This will prevent thousands of people who are not in the UK from building entitlement to a UK State Pension far more cheaply than working people here. Secondly, we are strengthening the link a person needs to have to the UK before they can build their National Insurance record abroad. A person will now need to have spent 10 years living or building their NI record in the UK, up from three years.

A Tax Information and Impact Note for these changes will be published alongside the introduction of legislation.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 8 December 2025, to Question 96894, on Treasury: Public Appointments, and pursuant to the Answer of 9 December 2025, to Question 94701, on Baroness Shafik, in relation to the publication of remuneration details, if she will publish the remuneration of each of the seven direct ministerial appointments.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Further to the Answer of 8 December 2025 to Question 96894, the annual remuneration of the paid direct ministerial appointments is:

• Alex Depledge, Entrepreneurship Adviser to the Chancellor of the Exchequer – a daily rate of £565.50 for two days per week.
• David Sturrock, Economic Adviser to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and member of the Council of Economic Advisers – £117,362 per annum, full time.

All other direct ministerial appointments listed are unpaid.

Direct ministerial appointments are temporary appointments made to provide time limited advice and support to Ministers.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 8 December 2025, to Question 96894, on Treasury: Public Appointments, if she will publish the annual remuneration of each of the direct ministerial appointments listed.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Further to the Answer of 8 December 2025 to Question 96894, the annual remuneration of the paid direct ministerial appointments is:

• Alex Depledge, Entrepreneurship Adviser to the Chancellor of the Exchequer – a daily rate of £565.50 for two days per week.
• David Sturrock, Economic Adviser to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and member of the Council of Economic Advisers – £117,362 per annum, full time.

All other direct ministerial appointments listed are unpaid.

Direct ministerial appointments are temporary appointments made to provide time limited advice and support to Ministers.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what methodology is used by HMRC to determine a “low”, “medium” or “high” probity risk rating in the honours vetting process.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC’s role in the honours system is advisory and not decision making – it provides an advisory low, medium or high risk rating which is considered by the Honours Committees, alongside information from other departments, in their decision making.

The probity risk rating is based on information held at the time of the check. HMRC does not disclose taxpayer details. The legal basis for disclosure of the rating is set out in published Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with other government departments (see https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-awards-and-appointments) and the criteria for determining ratings are set out at Annex C of the MOUs. Senior HMRC officials receive reports of nominee’s tax behaviour and apply the published Risk Rating Matrix in the MoU to arrive at a rating. HMRC has been providing advisory risk ratings under this framework since 2023.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether NHS staff receive employer pension contributions on dates on which they are on strike.

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

Contributions to the NHS Pension scheme are based on pensionable earnings. If staff participate in strike action and do not receive pay for those days, there is no pensionable pay for that period, so neither employee nor employer contributions are made.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, further to the Commissioner for Public Appointment’s annual report 2024-25, published December 2025, Appendix: direct appointments, what the business case was for appointing Climate Change Committee members for three years without open and fair competition; and if he will publish relevant correspondence to and from the Public Appointments Commissioner.

Answered by Katie White - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Professor Swenja Surminski was appointed to the CCC's Adaptation Committee in 2022 following a fair and open competition. She was subsequently appointed as a member of the Climate Change Committee to enhance collaboration between the two Committees, as allowed for under the Climate Change Act 2008. The Commissioner for Public Appointments was consulted, in line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether staff at the National Energy System Operator are permitted to own shares in National Grid.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

New employees at the National Energy System Operator (NESO) are required to divest any holding of energy sector shares, including in National Grid plc.

For employees transferring from National Grid Energy System Operator there are legacy arrangements in place. They have been allowed to keep their existing shares in the energy sector to prevent any individuals unfairly losing out in the NESO transaction.

Employees are required to disclose shareholdings, seek approval for any share sales, and cannot purchase new shares.

The board and Executive team cannot acquire new energy sector shares and have to divest all existing holdings over time.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, further to the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for government’s most important contracts, Data for July to September 2025, published by Cabinet Office on 25 December 2025, for what reason the requirement to reduce dependency on advisory services based in the Global North is a key performance indicator in the contract with DAI Global UK.

Answered by Katie White - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

This KPI relates to a contract with DAI Global UK for the delivery of an overseas development assistance (ODA) funded programme to strengthen institutional capacity in developing countries. The KPI aims to encourage delivery through downstream partners based in developing countries in order to build local leadership and expertise, reducing long-term reliance on UK aid. The headline contract was competitively tendered and awarded to a UK-based supplier.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to paragraph 9 of the document entitled Outcome of the exploratory discussions on the possible participation of the United Kingdom in the European Union’s internal electricity market, published on 22 December 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential of the environmental protection clause on costs for consumers.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

An electricity agreement with the EU will cut the cost of trading electricity with the EU - this means lower wholesale costs and ultimately lower bills. Any agreement will naturally involve a balance of rights and obligations to ensure a level playing field in the trade of electricity between the Parties. The detail of environmental commitments in this agreement, as with other areas, is a matter for negotiations.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, which pension provider maintains the staff pension scheme for the National Energy System Operator; and whether staff are offered (a) defined benefit and (b) defined contribution pensions.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The employees of the National Energy System Operator (NESO) are not civil servants and are not part of civil service pension schemes.

As noted in NESO’s latest annual report and accounts, Legal & General administer the company’s defined contribution pension scheme. There is a legacy defined benefit scheme, transferred as part of the acquisition by government, however this scheme is closed to new members/employees.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much HMRC has spent on social media influencers through (a) Pablo in partnership with the Unlimited Group and (b) OmniGov since July 2024.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Spend since July 2024 totals £436,700 through Pablo/Unlimited Group (excluding agency fees) and £85,719 through OmniGov. This expenditure has primarily been directed at campaigns promoting digital channels for interacting with HMRC. In 2025, this activity generated an additional 4.2 million HMRC app downloads, taking total users during this period to over 7 million.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether any gifts or hospitality given to the Chancellor of the Exchequer in a Ministerial capacity since July 2024 by Lord Alli have been returned or refunded.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Chancellor has not received any gifts or hospitality from Lord Alli since July 2024.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2025 to Question 86245 on Alex Chisholm and Simon Case, what was the business case for the approval of the severance payment for Simon Case in March 2025.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The severance payment for Simon Case was made in line with his contract of employment, and guidance concerning special severance payments as defined in HM Treasury’s Managing Public Money.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Government's transparency data entitled Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for government’s most important contracts: Data for July to September 2025 for all departments, published on 25 December 2025, for what reason Tackling Economic Inequality is a Key Performance Indicator for the contract entitled NHSmail Collaboration Licensing Platform that is supplied by Accenture (UK) Limited.

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

The inclusion of Tackling Economic Inequality as a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) for NHS England’s NHSmail Collaboration Licensing Platform contract reflects the Government’s Social Value Model, introduced to ensure that public procurement delivers wider economic and social benefits alongside core contractual outcomes. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-policy-note-0620-taking-account-of-social-value-in-the-award-of-central-government-contracts

As for every procurement, NHS England selected the most appropriate Social Value Theme from those set out in the above guidance, based on the subject matter of the contract. In this case, Tackling Economic Inequality was chosen. This theme encompasses measures that promote economic opportunity, support skills and employment, and encourage innovation and productivity across supply chains.

Each Social Value Theme in turn contains detailed Model Award Criteria, and for this contract NHS England applied:

• Innovation and Disruptive Technologies, to support innovation and disruptive technologies throughout the supply chain to deliver lower cost and/or higher quality goods and services; and
• Modernising Delivery and Increasing Productivity, to support the development of scalable and future-proofed new methods to modernise delivery and increase productivity.

The KPI was included to ensure those commitments are monitored transparently. This is consistent with the Government’s requirement to publish KPIs for its most important contracts, as part of strengthening accountability and transparency in public procurement.

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 18 December 2025 to Question 86060 on NHS: Recruitment, what guidance has been provided to NHS bodies on the (a) length and (b) type of criminal conviction that would prevent a person from being employed in the NHS under the Widening Access Demonstrator programme.

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

The Department commissions NHS Employers to issue employer guidance under the NHS Employment Check Standards, which includes the criminal record check requirements in the National Health Service in England. The standards direct employers in the NHS to use Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) guidance to understand which offences are disclosed or filtered, depending on age, sentence length, and offence type. The DBS applies statutory filtering rules to decide which convictions are shown on DBS certificates in England and Wales. DBS rules apply across all sectors for roles needing criminal record checks. Charities like Unlock and NACRO offer extra advice and guidance for individuals with criminal records and employers hiring them.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much the National Wealth Fund spent on trade union facility time in the 2024-25 financial year; how many FTE staff were funded by facility time, and if this included paid time for trade union activities.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

As set out in the National Wealth Fund’s Annual Report and Accounts for the 2024-25 financial year, no expenditure was incurred.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to page 48 of the Autumn Budget HC1492, published on 26 November 2025, if she will publish the monetary savings in each year on which the 16% back-office administrative costs figure is based.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

These are published in Table 1.1 of the Spending Review 2025 (page 13).

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to Box 2.D of the Autumn Budget 2025, HC1492, published on 26 November 2025, what information will Departments’ published delivery plans include.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Departmental Efficiency Plans were published alongside the Spending Review 2025 on 11 June 2025 and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/departmental-efficiency-delivery-plans/departmental-efficiency-plans

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 30 October 2025 to Question 71247 on Military Aircraft: Ministers, which Senior Ministers have been authorised to have occasional use of RAF CSAT aircraft.

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

The following Senior Ministers have been authorised to have occasional use of RAF CSAT aircraft:

• The Prime Minister
• Secretary of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
• Chancellor of the Exchequer

This is consistent with policies to CSAT travel from previous Governments.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the policy paper entitled Outcome of the exploratory discussions on the possible participation of the United Kingdom in the European Union’s internal electricity market, published on 22 December 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of dynamic alignment on the Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce: interim report of 24 November 2025.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The detail of commitments for a future agreement for the UK’s participation in the EU’s internal electricity market is a matter for negotiations.

As the Chancellor set out at Budget, the government will present a full response to the Nuclear Regulatory Review within three months, taking account of our international obligations, national security considerations, and planning, environmental and court processes.

The government will complete implementation of the Nuclear Regulatory Review within two years, subject to legislative timelines on elements requiring primary legislation.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 3 December 2025 to Question 75027 on Military Aircraft: Ministers, how many of the 44 tasks were (a) domestic and (b) overseas.

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

It has been the practice of successive administrations not to publish granular information relating to the official movements of Ministers and those accompanying them within the United Kingdom. Information about official overseas Ministerial travel is published as part of the Cabinet Office transparency returns and made available on the GOV.UK website.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether any of the members of the Clean Power 2030 Advisory Commission have made a declaration of political activity; and where their declarations of interest are published.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Members of the Clean Power 2030 Advisory Commission were asked to declare political activity during the application process and none were declared. We do not publish their conflicts of interest.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the answer of 16 December 2025 to Question 98794 on Mission Boards, who the internal and external members are of the Clean Energy Superpower Mission Board.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Clean Energy Superpower Mission Board is chaired by the DESNZ Secretary of State, the Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP. The board does not have a fixed list of internal or external members, rather we engage with other government departments, external organisations and industry experts depending on the issues for discussion.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether (a) he and (b) his Permanent Secretary approved the use of paid facility time for trade union activities outlined in the 2024-25 departmental annual report and accounts.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The departmental Trade Union Facility Time Guidance sets out a provision for paid activity time to be requested and approved, by exception. This is managed/agreed locally by management from a day to day perspective. The overall levels of activity time are monitored by HR and any concerns are dealt with on behalf of the Secretary of State/Permanent Secretary.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the answer of 10 September 2025 to Question 74317 on DESNZ: Social Media, which social media influencers have been paid to undertake advertising for his Department since July 2024.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Due to commercial confidentiality, we are unable to release this information.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the policy paper entitled Outcome of the exploratory discussions on the possible participation of the United Kingdom in the European Union’s internal electricity market, published on 22 December 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive on (a) consumers, (b) business and (c) the economy.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

An electricity agreement with the EU will cut the cost of trading electricity with the EU - this means lower wholesale costs and ultimately lower bills. Any agreement will naturally involve a balance of rights and obligations to ensure a level playing field in the trade of electricity between the Parties.

In line with the outcome of exploratory discussions, we will discuss the relevant rules on the promotion of renewables. The detail of commitments in this area, as with other areas, is a matter for negotiations.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is his policy on members of the Armed Forces (a) being members of single-sex private members’ clubs in a personal capacity and (b) participating in such clubs in a professional capacity.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

Defence does not hold a specific central policy on individual membership of single-sex private members’ clubs. Participation with external organisations in a professional capacity is subject to formal approval through the Chain of Command.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled New Ministry of Defence Permanent Secretary announced, published on 31 October 2025, whether the outgoing Permanent Secretary will receive any (a) exit and (b) severance payment.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

It is anticipated that any severance payments received, would be published in the Ministry of Defence annual report and accounts for 2025 to 2026.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 17 December 2025 to Question 98107 on Department for Business and Trade: Public Appointments, whether any of those direct ministerial appointees have made a declaration of political activity.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Of the 30 direct ministerial appointees, 6 have declared political activity.

Due diligence is conducted and individuals are required to complete a formal declaration of interests, in line with Cabinet Office guidance. These appointees deliver vital expertise to government and there is no bar to political activity for these roles.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for government’s most important contracts, Data for July to September 2025, published on 25 December 2025, how customer satisfaction with cultural sensitivity is monitored for the Security Guarding Services contract with MITIE SECURITY LIMITED.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Security Guarding Services contract KPI relating to cultural sensitivity is a qualitative KPI and is measured through a Customer Satisfaction evaluation survey completed on a quarterly basis. The KPI is monitored and reported through the contract management meetings held with Mitie Security Limited.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the International Journal of Wildland Fire's article entitled Assessing soil heating beneath prescribed burns, published on 15 January 2026.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The date and title of the citation provided does not correspond to any article published by the International Journal of Wildland Fire, but research on this topic is reviewed and taken into account in our policy development.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for government’s most important contracts, Data for July to September 2025, published on 25 December 2025, what the Key Performance Indicators are for the (a) Digitise Delivery Support contract with DELOITTE MCS LTD and (b) QAT74 End to End Testing contract with LA International Computer Consultants Limited.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

For Digitise Delivery Support contract with DELOITTE MCS LTD performance is managed through Balanced score card performance process by the Migration Border Tech Portfolio business. Performance assessed the supplier against themes :

- Performance to pay process

- Service requests and onboarding

- Delivery of the outcome of the various roles; project management, partnering behaviours and value add services and social value.

For QAT74 End to End Testing contract with LA International Computer Consultants Limited, the KPIs are :

- Partnering Behaviours

- Delivery

- Value Add

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 16 December 2025 to Question 98794 on Mission Boards, who the internal and external members are of the Safer Streets Mission Board.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Safer Streets Delivery Board hasn’t explicitly been mentioned before as far as we are aware. DG Public Safety Group’s role leading the Safer Streets Mission at an official level is well publicised however. In an FOI in August 2025 there is reference to various teams working on the Safer Streets Mission but it doesn’t go as far as saying there is this Delivery Board.

However the existence of the Delivery Board isn’t contentious and helps us answer this question in the spirit in which it is intended.

The Safer Streets Mission Board is chaired by the Home Secretary. Ministers from relevant government departments are invited to attend meetings based on specific discussion topics, as are external experts where necessary.

The Mission Board is supported by a monthly Safer Streets Delivery Board, which brings officials from government departments together to drive delivery and outcomes under the Safer Streets Mission. The Delivery Board is chaired by the Director General for the Public Safety Group in the Home Office and is attended by senior officials from relevant government departments.

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 5 January 2026, to Question 96853, on NHS England: Costs what estimate he has made of the (a) gross and (b) net number of civil servants who will leave the Civil Service due to redundancy.

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

The Government’s ambition remains to reduce staff numbers by up to 50% across the Department, NHS England, and the integrated care boards, which is the equivalent to up to 18,000 posts, including a number of Civil Servants, through paid exits via voluntary exits and redundancies, natural attrition, and recruitment controls, combined together. These reductions will be made by March 2028. The overall cost of paid exits across organisations is estimated at approximately £1 billion to £1.3 billion. The calculations remain subject to ongoing policy development and refinement, and are also subject to actual take-up of exit schemes and calculated individual costs. Relevant, material financial information relating to this active policy development will be published in due course in line with transparency obligations. The Government remains committed to reducing unnecessary bureaucracy and duplication, to save more than £1 billion a year by the end of Parliament, which will go directly to improving patient outcomes.

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Found: (Chair) Sarah Bool (Conservative; South Northamptonshire) Juliet Campbell (Labour; Broxtowe) Charlie Dewhirst

Found: Anna Turley: There are no plans to publish this correspondence.”26 “Charlie Dewhirst: To ask the Minister

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Mr Alistair Carmichael (Chair); Charlie Dewhirst; Sarah Dyke; Terry

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Mr Alistair Carmichael (Chair); Sarah Bool; Juliet Campbell; Charlie Dewhirst