Kit Malthouse

Details of ministers’ meetings with external organisations and individuals are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.

Special advisers are required to comply with the Special Adviser Code of Conduct at all times and are required to make declarations on meetings with senior media figures in line with published transparency guidance.

Where a special adviser accompanies their minister to an official meeting with a senior media figure, the special adviser’s attendance does not need to be separately recorded as the minister will be the main attendee.

Where an informal lobbying approach is granted time or resource by Government, it should result in a diarised engagement and therefore be recorded.

Since 5 July 2024, no statutory or non-statutory direct ministerial appointments have been made by the Minister for Women and Equalities.

As of this date, I can confirm that, excluding special advisers, the Attorney General and I have not made any direct statutory or non-statutory ministerial appointments.

Of course, the Law Officers and wider government legal teams for which they are responsible do make use of outside experts on the law, whether counsel, law firms or academic specialists. Arrangements for using counsel or academics are principally through the Attorney General’s panels and an off-panel nomination process or via their academic institution, whereas law firms are principally instructed through a panel firm procurement process.

As was the practice under the previous Administration, details of the Prime Minister’s official engagements with external individuals and organisations will be published in the quarterly transparency returns on gov.uk.

Details of ministers’ meetings with external organisations and individuals are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.

Special advisers are required to comply with the Special Adviser Code of Conduct at all times and are required to make declarations on meetings with senior media figures in line with published transparency guidance.

Where a special adviser accompanies their minister to an official meeting with a senior media figure, the special adviser’s attendance does not need to be separately recorded as the minister will be the main attendee.

Where an informal lobbying approach is granted time or resource by Government, it should result in a diarised engagement and therefore be recorded.

As of this date, there have been no such appointments.

A ‘direct appointment’ is a Ministerial appointment to a non-statutory office. It does not include appointments to Civil Service roles. Since 5 July 2024, the Cabinet Office has made no statutory or non-statutory direct ministerial appointments.

Ammonia cracking is a nascent technology that the Government has supported through the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio, which aims to accelerate the commercialisation of innovative, low-carbon technologies. The government will soon publish the new Industrial Strategy, with Clean Energy Industries as a priority growth sector. As the sector develops, government will work with UK companies developing ammonia cracking technologies to understand the opportunities for growth through exports.

We are aware of various companies developing ammonia cracking technologies, who are also looking to export these technologies overseas. We are committed to ensuring that businesses in the UK hydrogen sector grow and thrive, including through exports of hydrogen goods and services, so they can benefit from the opportunities of the transition to clean energy, through strong international trade relationships and effective supply chains.

The Industrial Strategy Green Paper identified eight growth-driving sectors, including both advanced manufacturing and clean energy industries. Low carbon ammonia could play a role in reaching net zero as part of a diverse energy mix. All sectors can shape and benefit from policy reform through the Industrial Strategy’s cross-cutting policies alongside the broader Growth Mission.

The Industrial Strategy, alongside Sector Plans for the growth-driving sectors, will be published in spring 2025, aligned with the multi-year Spending Review.

All Business and Trade direct ministerial appointments are currently under review and no direct Ministerial appointments have been finalised.

Ammonia cracking is a nascent technology that the Government has supported through the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio, which aims to accelerate the commercialisation of innovative, low-carbon technologies. As the sector develops, government will work with UK companies developing ammonia cracking technologies to understand its potential applications.

Ammonia cracking is a nascent technology that the Government has previously supported through the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio. As set out in the Market Engagement document, the early focus of the Hydrogen Storage Business Model will be geological storage. The use of ammonia as a form of chemical storage for cracking to hydrogen was assessed to have low technology readiness. Government continues to review technological developments and may make changes to HSBM eligibility when appropriate to do so.

The Government’s immediate priority is supporting primary hydrogen production methods in the UK, which will help us to develop supply chains and bring down the costs of hydrogen production in the UK. Utilising ammonia cracking to import hydrogen does not meet these criteria and so ammonia cracking will not be eligible for HAR3. We will continue to consider the potential future role for ammonia cracking in the UK hydrogen economy as we recognise that, in the longer term, imported hydrogen could play a role as part of a diverse supply mix.

There is regular engagement between DESNZ, DfT and DBT to discuss a range of policy issues. Officials are working closely with other departments to understand the potential role of ammonia in the UK’s future low carbon economy and how it should be considered within our policy frameworks.

Ministers from DESNZ are in regular communication with ministers from DfT & DBT on all issues.

Low carbon ammonia could play a role in reaching net zero as part of a diversified energy mix. Officials are working closely with other departments, such as the Department for Transport, to understand potential demand for low carbon ammonia, where appropriate supply may come from, and whether any Government intervention may be required.

The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology has made two statutory and one non-statutory direct ministerial appointments.

Matt Clifford was appointed through a direct ministerial appointment in July 2024. Matt is the Lead Reviewer of the Artificial Intelligence Opportunities Action Plan and is not remunerated for his role. The terms of reference for the action plan are available on GOV.UK.

Hazel Hobbs was appointed as interim Chair of Building Digital UK (BDUK) in August, starting on 1 September 2024 for a period of 6 months and remuneration of £80,000 p.a. pro rata. An announcement containing further details is published here. Hazel will serve as interim Chair whilst an exercise is launched to recruit a permanent Chair. Hazel has also been reappointed in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments as a non-executive director of BDUK, having been a member of the Board since the organisation became an executive agency in March 2022.

Stella Peace was appointed as interim Executive Chair at Innovate UK (IUK) in August, starting on 30 September 2024 for an initial period of six months with remuneration of £149,000 p.a. pro rata. An announcement containing further details is published here. Stella will serve as interim Executive Chair whilst an exercise is completed to recruit a permanent Executive Chair.

As regulated Public Appointments, the interim Chair of BDUK and interim Executive Chair of IUK were both appointed in accordance with paragraph 3.3 of the Governance Code on Public Appointments, which states that: "In exceptional cases, Ministers may decide to appoint a candidate without a competition. They must make this decision public alongside their reasons for doing so. They must consult the Commissioner for Public Appointments in good time before the appointment is publicly announced”.

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has not made any statutory or non-statutory direct appointments.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, made a direct ministerial appointment for the Interim Chair of Skills England with Richard Pennycook appointed on 22 July 2024. Details of the remuneration will be available in future published Annual Reports and Accounts.

In addition, Sir Kevan Collins has been appointed as a non-executive board member of the Department for Education for a period of three years from 5 July 2024. As a regulated public appointment, it was made in accordance with paragraph 3.3 of the Governance Code on Public Appointments, which states that: "In exceptional cases, Ministers may decide to appoint a candidate without a competition. They must make this decision public alongside their reasons for doing so. They must consult the Commissioner for Public Appointments in good time before the appointment is publicly announced". Further details are published here, including terms and remuneration: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/department-for-education-non-executive-appointments/appointments-made-april-2024-to-march-2025.

Details of Ministers’ meetings with external organisations and individuals are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.

Special Advisers are required to comply with the Special Adviser Code of Conduct at all times and are required to make declarations on meetings with senior media figures in line with published transparency guidance.

Where a Special Adviser accompanies their Minister to an official meeting with a senior media figure, the Special Adviser’s attendance does not need to be separately recorded as the Minister will be the main attendee.

Where an ‘informal’ lobbying approach is granted time or resource by Government, it should result in a diarised engagement and therefore be recorded.

The Secretary of State has not made any Direct Ministerial Appointments.

The Secretary of State for Transport has not made any statutory or non-statutory direct ministerial appointments.

Details of Ministers’ meetings with external organisations and individuals are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.

Special Advisers are required to comply with the Special Adviser Code of Conduct at all times and are required to make declarations on meetings with senior media figures in line with published transparency guidance.

Where a Special Adviser accompanies their Minister to an official meeting with a senior media figure, the Special Adviser’s attendance does not need to be separately recorded as the Minister will be the main attendee.

Where an ‘informal’ lobbying approach is granted time or resource by Government, it should result in a diarised engagement and therefore be recorded.

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has established a non-statutory Labour Market Advisory Board which will consist of a small group of leading labour market experts to provide insight, ideas, and challenge to tackle key labour market issues. The Board will be chaired by Paul Gregg, Professor of Economic and Social Policy in the Department of Social and Policy Sciences, University of Bath with further members being announced shortly. Roles on the Board are unpaid. We will set out further details of the Labour Market Advisory Board, including the Terms of Reference, shortly.

The allowed rate of growth for branded medicines is established by the 2024 Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing, Access and Growth (VPAG).

The VPAG plays an important role in delivering improved health gains from medicines in the National Health Service across the United Kingdom, by securing rapid access to new medicines, supporting economic growth, and contributing to a financially sustainable health service.

We are taking decisive action to review the scheme to unlock innovation and drive investment in the UK's world-class pharmaceutical sector.

This review is ongoing, demonstrating our commitment to creating an environment where this innovative sector can thrive.

Life sciences is a key growth-driving sector and is a core part of our modern Industrial Strategy. The 2024 Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing and Access (VPAG) introduced, for the first time, an approximately £400 million industry-funded VPAG Investment Programme. Funding from the VPAG Investment Programme is used to accelerate work across the United Kingdom on clinical trials, manufacturing, and health technology assessments. This is encouraging the United Kingdom’s economic growth, collaboration, and innovation in the health and life sciences sector.

In recognition of the concerns raised by industry regarding the higher than expected headline payment percentage rates in the VPAG this year, the Department brought forward an expedited scheme review. The conclusion to this review will be communicated in due course.

Any company that chooses not to be part of the VPAG will automatically be subject to the statutory scheme, which was recently subject to amendments, which will come into force on 1 July 2025. The purpose of these amendments is to restore broad commercial equivalence with the VPAG, to ensure that the schemes can continue to work together to meet our objectives of acting in the best interests of industry, patients, the National Health Service, and the broader economy. An impact assessment was conducted and published alongside the amending statutory instrument for this most recent update, which included consideration of the impact on clinical trials and manufacturing.

Additionally, the Government is developing the Life Sciences Sector Plan and 10-Year Health Plan to make the UK the premier destination for life sciences investment, by fostering an environment where innovation thrives.

My Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is responsible for making a range of public appointments, some of which are established in statute, and some of which are not. As of 29 August 2024, my Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care had not made any public appointments directly, without competition.

Separate to public appointments, and in line with Cabinet Office guidance, ministers can also make direct ministerial appointments. As of 29 August 2024, my Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care had made two such appointments. The first of which is the Rt hon. Professor Lord Darzi, who has been appointed to lead the independent audit of the National Health Service. This is an unpaid position, and details of this appointment and the terms of reference are available, respectively, at the following two links:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-investigation-of-nhs-performance-terms-of-reference/independent-investigation-of-nhs-performance-terms-of-reference

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/independent-investigation-ordered-into-state-of-nhs

The second appointment is Paul Corrigan, who has been appointed as a Senior Strategy Advisor for the 10-Year Health Plan. This is a paid position, at a rate of £350 per day. Further details on the terms of reference for the role will be released shortly on the GOV.UK website.

The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs has made one direct ministerial appointment to date. Jonathan Powell has been appointed as the Prime Minister's Envoy for the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT)/Chagos Archipelago Sovereignty Negotiation with Mauritius. Jonathan Powell's experience on the most sensitive international issues makes him uniquely qualified to carry out this role. His appointment was announced on Gov.uk on 6 September. The full statement can be found here: [https://www.gov.uk/government/news/jonathan-powell-appointed-as-special-envoy-for-biot-negotiations].

As the Chancellor of the Exchequer set out in her statement to Parliament on 29th July 2024, she asked Treasury officials, on her first day in office, to undertake a rapid audit of public spending. The Chancellor engaged with the Prime Minister throughout on the findings of the audit and took immediate action to find £5.5 billion of savings in 2024-25, rising to £8.1 billion in 2025-26. The conclusions of the public spending audit were presented to the House of Commons on 29th July 2024.

As the Chancellor of the Exchequer set out in her statement to Parliament on 29th July 2024, she asked Treasury officials, on her first day in office, to undertake a rapid audit of public spending. Officials updated the Chancellor on the findings of the audit throughout the process, and she took immediate action to find £5.5 billion of savings in 2024-25, rising to £8.1 billion in 2025-26. The conclusions of the public spending audit were presented to the House of Commons on 29th July 2024.

As the Chancellor of the Exchequer set out in her statement to Parliament on 29th July 2024, she asked Treasury officials, on her first day in office, to undertake a rapid audit of public spending. As is the usual process with Treasury documents, officials worked closely with typesetters throughout to develop and print the document. The conclusions of the public spending audit were presented to the House of Commons on 29th July 2024.

As of 2 September 2024, there has been one direct ministerial appointment made. Ian Corfield has been appointed as an unpaid International Investment Summit Adviser by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ian Corfield will be in post until 31 October 2024. Details of his appointment can be found on gov.uk.

As the Chancellor of the Exchequer set out in her statement to Parliament on 29th July 2024, she asked Treasury officials, on her first day in office, to undertake a rapid audit of public spending. Once the audit was complete, she took immediate action to find £5.5 billion of savings in 2024-25, rising to £8.1 billion in 2025-26. The conclusions of the public spending audit were presented to the House of Commons on 29th July 2024.

The Home Office has not made any new direct ministerial appointments since the General Election.

Details of Ministers' meetings with external organisations and individuals are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.

Special Advisers are required to comply with the Special Adviser Code of Conduct at all times and are required to make declarations on meetings with senior media figures in line with published transparency guidance. Where a Special Adviser accompanies their Minister to an official meeting with a senior media figure, the Special Adviser's attendance does not need to be separately recorded as the Minister will be the main attendee. Where an 'informal' lobbying approach is granted time or resource by Government, it should result in a diarised engagement and therefore be recorded.

The Department has not made any statutory direct Ministerial appointments.

The Department has made eight non-statutory direct Ministerial appointments. These are as follows:

Strategic Defence Review (SDR) 2024

Reviewers:

• Lead reviewer- Lord Robertson of Port Ellen
• Reviewer - Dr Fiona Hill
• Reviewer - General Sir Richard Barrons
• Review Team Expert - Rt Hon Sir Jeremy Quin
• Review Team Expert - Edward Dinsmore
• Review Team Expert - Robin Marshall
• Review Team Expert - Grace Cassy

Remuneration rates have not yet been finalised.

All these appointments are subject to the Terms of Reference for the SDR which is available on GOV.UK.

AUKUS

• UK Government's AUKUS Adviser - Sir Stephen Lovegrove

Un-remunerated. Appointment's Terms of Reference available on GOV.UK.

The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government has made two non-statutory direct ministerial appointments since being appointed to the role: Sir Michael Lyons as the Chair of the New Towns Taskforce, and Dame Kate Barker as the Deputy Chair of the New Towns Taskforce. The New Towns Taskforce will be responsible for recommending locations for new towns within the next year. We will set out further details of the Taskforce in the coming weeks, ahead of the appointment of the other Taskforce members and its first meeting in the autumn.

The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice has made no such appointments.

Since becoming Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 5 July, I have not made any statutory or non-statutory direct ministerial appointments.

I have not made any statutory or non-statutory direct ministerial appointments since being appointed as Leader of the House of Commons.

I can confirm that I have not made any statutory or non-statutory direct Ministerial Appointments since taking up office as the Secretary of State for Scotland on 5 July 2024.

Neither I nor my Special Advisers have had any meetings or communications via electronic messaging with representatives of Arden Strategies.

Since my appointment as Secretary of State for Wales, I have not made any statutory or non-statutory direct ministerial appointments.