Oral Answers to Questions

John Lamont Excerpts

Thursday 10th September 2026 Commons Chamber

[Louise Haigh]

I am incredibly sorry to hear about the experience of Stan and the death of his family member. Unfortunately, that experience has been shared by too many people, and the Government, including my predecessor as Minister for the Cabinet Office, have done considerable work to improve the scheme, setting out a number of reforms and new statutory instruments. I will ask my noble Friend the Minister in the other place to meet the hon. Member and his constituent to consider his experience and how we can improve the system.

[John Lamont (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk) (Con)]

12. What estimate she has made of the cost of setting up No. 10 North.

[Greg Smith (Mid Buckinghamshire) (Con)]

17. What estimate she has made of the cost of setting up No. 10 North.

[The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Dan Tomlinson)]

No. 10 North will drive growth in every postcode of the country, working alongside mayors, council leaders and businesses from across Britain. The costs of setting up and running No. 10 North are covered by existing Cabinet Office budgets.

[John Lamont]

I thank the Minister for that answer, but of course for my constituents it is not No. 10 North, but “No. 10 Midlands”. According to a freedom of information request, tens of thousands of pounds have already been spent setting up No. 10 North, including £10,500 on branding, £1,700 on crockery and nearly £1,000 moving a replica Downing Street door. Does he think that this represents good value for money, and will he commit to publish annually the full cost of running No. 10 North, including staffing, travel and security?

[Dan Tomlinson]

For me, as a north London MP, visiting Manchester is very much going north, but it is fantastic to go up there and meet local businesses when I do so. On the hon. Member’s specific question, the expenditure on No. 10 North will of course be published in the usual way, along with the Cabinet Office accounts.