Mike Wood Portrait

Mike Wood

Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire

6,303 (14.0%) majority - 2024 General Election

First elected: 7th May 2015

Opposition Whip (Commons)

(since July 2024)

Shadow Minister (Cabinet Office)

(since November 2024)

Select Committees
Committee of Selection (since November 2024)
Rare Cancers Bill (since June 2025)
Secure 16 to 19 Academies Bill (since June 2025)
Victims and Courts Bill
17th Jun 2025 - 24th Jun 2025
Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill
12th Feb 2025 - 18th Mar 2025
Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
19th Jul 2024 - 6th Nov 2024
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
14th Nov 2023 - 5th Jul 2024
Football Governance Bill
8th May 2024 - 23rd May 2024
Trade (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership) Bill [HL]
7th Feb 2024 - 20th Feb 2024
Media Bill
29th Nov 2023 - 12th Dec 2023
Assistant Whip
28th Oct 2022 - 14th Nov 2023
Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill
7th Jun 2023 - 11th Jul 2023
International Trade Committee
14th Dec 2021 - 26th Apr 2023
Online Safety (Re-committed Clauses and Schedules) Bill
7th Dec 2022 - 15th Dec 2022
Nationality and Borders Bill
22nd Sep 2021 - 4th Nov 2021
Nationality and Borders Bill
15th Sep 2021 - 19th Sep 2021
European Scrutiny Committee
7th Nov 2016 - 3rd May 2017


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Mike Wood has voted in 273 divisions, and 2 times against the majority of their Party.

26 Nov 2024 - Tobacco and Vapes Bill - View Vote Context
Mike Wood voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 23 Conservative Aye votes vs 35 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 415 Noes - 47
26 Mar 2025 - Tobacco and Vapes Bill - View Vote Context
Mike Wood voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 24 Conservative Aye votes vs 31 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 366 Noes - 41
View All Mike Wood Division Votes

Debates during the 2024 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Georgia Gould (Labour)
Minister of State (Education)
(31 debate interactions)
Lindsay Hoyle (Speaker)
(13 debate interactions)
Andrew Western (Labour)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
(12 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Cabinet Office
(87 debate contributions)
Department for Work and Pensions
(55 debate contributions)
Ministry of Justice
(30 debate contributions)
Department for Business and Trade
(13 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
View all Mike Wood's debates

Kingswinford and South Staffordshire Petitions

e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.

If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.

If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).

Petition Debates Contributed

We think that changing inheritance tax relief for agricultural land will devastate farms nationwide, forcing families to sell land and assets just to stay on their property. We urge the government to keep the current exemptions for working farms.

I would like there to be another General Election.

I believe the current Labour Government have gone back on the promises they laid out in the lead up to the last election.


Latest EDMs signed by Mike Wood

4th June 2025
Mike Wood signed this EDM on Wednesday 4th June 2025

Mauritius Treaty

Tabled by: Kemi Badenoch (Conservative - North West Essex)
That the Agreement, done at London and Port Louis on 22 May 2025, between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Mauritius concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia, should not be ratified.
107 signatures
(Most recent: 1 Jul 2025)
Signatures by party:
Conservative: 92
Reform UK: 5
Independent: 4
Democratic Unionist Party: 3
Traditional Unionist Voice: 1
Ulster Unionist Party: 1
Labour: 1
2nd September 2024
Mike Wood signed this EDM on Monday 2nd September 2024

Social Security

Tabled by: Rishi Sunak (Conservative - Richmond and Northallerton)
That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, praying that the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2024 (S.I., 2024, No. 869), dated 22 August 2024, a copy of which was laid before this House on 22 August 2024, be annulled.
81 signatures
(Most recent: 10 Sep 2024)
Signatures by party:
Conservative: 74
Independent: 4
Democratic Unionist Party: 2
Scottish National Party: 1
View All Mike Wood's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Mike Wood, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.

MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.


Mike Wood has not been granted any Urgent Questions

Mike Wood has not been granted any Adjournment Debates

2 Bills introduced by Mike Wood


This Bill received Royal Assent on 23rd March 2016 and was enacted into law.


A Bill to require local authorities to maintain a register of heritage public houses in their area and to make provision in connection with the compilation and maintenance of such registers; to make provision relating to planning applications in respect of public houses on such a register; to place restrictions on the sale of heritage public houses; to make provision relating to the nomination of heritage public houses as assets of community value; to make provision about the listing of heritage public houses; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Monday 21st October 2024
Next Event - 2nd Reading
Friday 31st October 2025

Mike Wood has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


Latest 50 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
17 Other Department Questions
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether the Cabinet Office has funded Common Purpose since 4 July 2024.

Common Purpose was paid to provide a one-off day of team development for the Office of Equality and Opportunity in February 2025.

Olivia Bailey
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
17th Jul 2025
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the FCDO press release entitled LGBTQIA+ Legal Guidebook launched in Philippines for Pride Month, published on 23 June 2025, whether her Department has a policy on the use of the phrase LGBTQIA+; and whether it has replaced (a) LGBT and (b) LGBT+.

The Office for Equality and Opportunity does not mandate the use of any particular acronym in reference to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office works with a range of organisations globally to protect and promote the human rights of the most vulnerable communities.

The Government uses LGBT+ in communications and publications, as these are widely recognised and understood.

15th Jul 2025
To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, what was the (a) percentage and (b) cash term monetary change in average fees for the House of Commons nursery in (i) 2024-25 and (ii) 2025-26.

In May 2024, following benchmarking exercises against other similar nursery provision, and taking account of pay awards for the period 2023-2025, fees were increased by 10% for all users. The rise was the first since 2017. The Nursery is an important service to support Members, their staff and House staff.

Assuming a 5 day a week usage, this saw a cash equivalent of increases of £127.84 a month for children under two years old, and £117.00 a month for children over two years old.

In July 2025, a further increase of 3% was implemented.

Assuming a 5 day a week usage, this saw a cash equivalent of increases of £42.5 a month for children under two years old, and £39.00 a month for children over two years old.

2023 Cost per month

Increase (10%)

2024 Cost per month

Increase (3%)

2025 Cost per month

Under Two years

£1,278.33

£127.84

£1,406.17

£42.25

£1,448.42

Over Two

£1,170.00

£117.00

£1,287.00

£39.00

£1,326.00

15th Jul 2025
To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 21 May 2025 to Question 52332 on House of Commons: Morning Star, what criteria the House uses to determine the number of copies ordered.

The Library takes one copy of each daily national newspaper which is made available in the Members’ Library. Additional copies of titles are only taken if Library staff determine there is sufficient demand. Newspaper orders, including numbers of copies, are reviewed annually to ensure they are still meeting Members’ needs.

Further copies are placed in the Members’ Tea Room, Smoking Room, and Portcullis House Atrium, as previously requested by Members.

In June 2025, the Administration Committee approved a review of newspaper provision in non-Library areas, to look at both quantities and locations of hard-copy newspapers. This will be completed by the House Service post summer recess.

17th Jun 2025
To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, what guidance the Church of England provides to clergy on the expression of gender-critical views.

The Church of England does not provide specific standalone guidance to clergy on the expression of gender-critical views.

On complex issues the House of Bishops may from time to time publish guidance and advice for clergy, designed to inform local response. Two main publications that include detailed theological discussion relating to gender and sexuality are ‘Some Issues in Human Sexuality’ (2003), and ‘Issues in Human Sexuality’ (1991).

More recent statements and pastoral guidance have updated the above, in particular:

• 2005 House of Bishops statement on civil partnerships for same-sex couples,
• 2014 pastoral guidance from the House of Bishops on civil same-sex marriage,
• 2019 House of Bishops statement on civil marriage for all persons,
• 2020 Living in Love and Faith book.

These are all available to view or order on the Church of England website


Following a vote of the General Synod in 2017 to welcome and affirm transgender people, the House of Bishops provided guidance in 2018 called ‘Pastoral Guidance for use in conjunction with the Affirmation of Baptismal Faith in the context of gender transition.’

Within Church of England schools, clergy and teachers are advised to align with the “Pastoral Principles”: www.churchofengland.org/about/general-synod/structure/house-bishops/pastoral-principles

Guidance is also available in ‘Flourishing for All: Anti-bullying Guidance for Church of England Schools’ (updated April 2025): www.churchofengland.org/about/education-and-schools/education-publications/anti-bullying-guidance-church-england-schools

1st May 2025
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what estimate she has made of the regulatory cost of producing Equality Impact Assessments; and whether the Government plans to take steps to reduce the compliance cost of producing them.

Where a public body decides to undertake an Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) to fulfill its Public Sector Equality Duty obligations, this would be funded as part of the organisation’s administrative budget. EIAs are well embedded in Government policy making and are not considered an additional cost but part of mainstream administrative functions.

In fact, EIAs are likely overall to reduce costs for public bodies, because the entailed analysis and discussion, by highlighting any equality issues greatly reduces the risk of subsequent litigation for alleged law breaches resulting from the particular policy.

1st May 2025
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, pursuant to the Answer of 29 November 2024 to Question 15471 on Office for Equality and Opportunity: Gender and Sexuality, what definition of (a) gender, (b) sexual orientation and (c) gender identity are used by diversity networks funded by his Department.

There is no definition of gender, sexual orientation or gender identity formally recognised and used by the diversity networks in the Cabinet Office.

29th Apr 2025
To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 8 April 2025 to Question 42602 on Stonewall: Subscriptions, whether the National Audit Office pays subscription fees to Stonewall.

The National Audit Office does not pay subscriptions to Stonewall.

29th Apr 2025
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the press notice entitled Radical action plan to cut red tape and kickstart growth, published on 17 March 2025, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of measures in the Equality law call for evidence, published on 7 April 2025, on the Government's target to reduce the administrative cost of regulation on business by a quarter.

The Call for Evidence on Equality Law, published on 7 April 2025, seeks evidence on how we can better remove barriers to ambition and success for everyone, to improve the lives of working people and strengthen our country as part of our Plan for Change.

The purpose of the Call for Evidence is not to put forward detailed policy proposals and it would therefore not be possible or appropriate to produce an impact assessment at this stage. All evidence submitted to the Call for Evidence will be taken into account when developing policy. We will assess the impact of any proposed policy in the normal way, working in partnership with business, trade unions and civil society, to ensure any potential impacts are fully considered.

7th Apr 2025
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to her Departments document entitled Response to call for input on single-sex spaces guidance, published on 17 December 2024, when she will publish new guidance; and whether (a) her Department and (b) the Equality and Human Rights Commission will consult on that guidance.

The Government is sharing with the EHRC all the submissions that met the criteria of the previous Government’s call for input on single-sex spaces guidance.

It is vitally important that service providers understand the single-sex service exceptions in the Equality Act 2010 and feel confident using them. The Government has committed to ensuring that there is guidance in place which gives service providers assurance about the rights afforded by the Act and how to lawfully apply its single-sex exceptions. We will set out our next steps on this soon.

7th Apr 2025
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the guidance entitled Response to call for input on single-sex spaces guidance, published on 17 December 2024, if she will publish each of the non-confidential responses.

The Government is sharing with the EHRC all the submissions that met the criteria of the previous Government’s call for input on single-sex spaces guidance.

It is vitally important that service providers understand the single-sex service exceptions in the Equality Act 2010 and feel confident using them. The Government has committed to ensuring that there is guidance in place which gives service providers assurance about the rights afforded by the Act and how to lawfully apply its single-sex exceptions. We will set out our next steps on this soon.

2nd Apr 2025
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the consultation document on ethnic and disability pay gap reporting, published on 18 March 2025, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of including a question to consultation respondents on the costs to employers of the new measures.

The public consultation seeks views on the proposed approach to mandatory ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting in order to inform the drafting of the legislation.

We are separately engaging with a wide range of organisations, including employers, and gathering evidence in a more systematic manner on the likely costs and benefits of the proposed reporting requirements. This work will inform the impact assessment that will be published alongside the draft Equality (Race and Disability) Bill.

Seema Malhotra
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
2nd Apr 2025
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2025 to Question HL4540 on Local Government: Equality, whether (a) the Cabinet Office, (b) the Office for Women and Equality and (c) the Equality and Human Rights Commission consider that being gender fluid or gender neutral constitutes the protected characteristic of gender reassignment.

The Equality Act defines the protected characteristic of gender reassignment as a person that is proposing to undergo, is undergoing or has undergone a process (or part of a process) for the purpose of gender reassignment.

15th Nov 2024
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what the Government’s policy is on the scope of the public sector equality duty in relation to private sector organisations that provide goods and services to the public sector.

The scope of the Public Sector Equality Duty (the PSED) is set out in the Equality Act 2010 (the Act). It extends to all public authorities listed in Schedule 19 of the Act and all parties carrying out public functions. This came into force in April 2011 and includes private sector and voluntary organisations.

The PSED requires organisations in scope to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations between different people.

The government remains committed to upholding the PSED and ensuring that all parties exercising public functions comply with its provisions.

13th Nov 2024
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is to support equality of opportunity for young white working class males.

Whoever you are, wherever you come from, Britain should be a country where hard work means you can get on in life. Our work in the Opportunity Mission aims to break the link between background and success to ensure all children, including those from white working-class backgrounds, are able to achieve and thrive today so they can succeed and flourish tomorrow.

13th Nov 2024
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she plans to commence the caste provisions in the Equality Act 2010 as amended.

We are currently considering our position on caste discrimination. We will announce our plans in due course.

21st Jul 2025
To ask the Solicitor General, with reference to the Civil Service 2024/2025 External Expenditure on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, published on 30 May 2025, which suppliers were used to provide the Black History Talk.

Any expenditure on equality, diversity and inclusion is conducted in line with Civil Service policies. With reference to the specific spend listed within the Civil Service 2024/2025 External Expenditure on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, published on 30 May 2025, the one hour Black History Talk took place as part of Black History Month in October 2024 at a cost of £150. It was delivered by a law lecturer, who has worked for a number of UK/US universities and law schools.

Lucy Rigby
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
21st Jul 2025
To ask the Solicitor General, pursuant to the Answer of 25 April 2025 to Question 45656 on Government Departments: Legal Opinion, for what reason the latest guidance removed the wording that in presenting such assessments, it is important to ensure negligible or discounted risks are not given undue weight.

It is evident that all professional advice should avoid placing undue emphasis on risks that are negligible.

Lucy Rigby
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
21st Jul 2025
To ask the Solicitor General, whether guidance has been issued by the (a) Law Officers and (b) Government Legal Service on the (i) Venice Commission and (ii) Rule of Law Checklist since July 2024.

Since July 2024, no guidance has been issued in regard to the (i) Venice Commission or (ii) Rule of Law Checklist by the Law Officers or Government Legal Profession.

Lucy Rigby
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
17th Jul 2025
To ask the Solicitor General, with reference to the Civil Service 2024/2025 External Expenditure on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, published on 30 May 2025, which suppliers were used to provide the LGBTi internal conference.

The LGBTI conference was a Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) event, and the supplier used to provide venue services was Calder Conferences.

Calder Conferences offers venue solutions for meetings, conferences, and other events, and works with various government departments.

The CPS has a contract with Calder Conferences through the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) Framework for Travel and Venue Solutions. This framework allows CPS to access venues for meetings and conferences as needed.

The contract was signed in 2024 under the previous government for two years, with an option to extend for one additional year until February 2027, as is standard across government departments when contracting with conference suppliers. As standard, government contracts are routinely reviewed.

Lucy Rigby
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
21st Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the (a) National Security Adviser or (b) his Deputies have discussed the Chinese Embassy with the Chinese Government.

The government has a clear and consistent policy not to comment on any of the NSA’s, or his deputies’, meetings with external parties, for obvious reasons to protect sensitive information pertaining to this country’s national security. This has been the case under successive governments.

Dan Jarvis
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
16th Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's guidance entitled Influencer Marketing Privacy Notice, updated on 10 September 2025, which agencies have been used by (a) his Department and (b) the Government Communications Service to select appropriate influencers to support government communication campaigns since July 2024.

Influencers have proven to be effective in reaching audiences that traditional marketing channels find hard to reach.

Influencers work is supported primarily via the agencies OmniGov and Pablo Unlimited via the Campaign Solutions 2 framework, detailed at the following link:

https://www.crowncommercial.gov.uk/agreements/RM6125

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
16th Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 3 September 2025 to Question 71231 on New Media Unit: Staff, what the (a) operating costs and (b) budget for (i) marketing and (ii) advertising are for the New Media Unit.

Operational costs are charged at a departmental level, rather than being broken down to the team level. The New Media Unit has a budget of £13.2 million allocated for marketing, media, and advertising expenditures.

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
16th Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the (a) methodology and (b) guidance used under the Government Communication Service SAFE framework to assess website.

Beyond the information currently accessible via the provided link below, there are no plans to release further detail on the SAFE framework.

https://www.communications.gov.uk/publications/safe-framework-the-4-principles-for-hmg-brand-safety/

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
16th Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 23 September 2025 to Question 74186 on Cabinet Office: Council Tax, if he will publish that policy.

The long-standing policy referred to in Question 74186 was set out in a parliamentary question to the then Prime Minister the Rt Hon Sir Tony Blair as follows:

“The level and responsibility for payment of council tax is determined on whether the property is the Minister's main or secondary residence. If a main residence, the responsibility for payment of the tax falls to the Minister. If the property is a secondary residence, responsibility for payment falls to the responsible Department.”

This question is available at the following link: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199900/cmhansrd/vo000605/text/00605w14.htm#00605w14.html_spmin0.

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
16th Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the National Audit Office's report entitled Government exits and redundancies, published in September 2025, if he will publish the latest dataset on civil service exit scheme applications provided to the National Audit Office by his Department.

Data contained in the current National Audit Office’s (NAO’s) Good Practice Guide was provided to the NAO to help explain the context of the guidance that the NAO has issued.

There are no plans to publish further data as this information is held by individual departments, and will be reported in their Annual Report and Accounts.

Anna Turley
Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
16th Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Civil Service staff networks to only meet outside working hours and have all events signed off by senior managers, published on 23 September 2025, whether guidance on staff diversity networks will be issued to (a) local government, (b) the police, (c) the NHS, (d) the armed forces and (e) other parts of the public sector.

The Cabinet Office does not have responsibility for public sector organisations outside of the Civil Service.

Anna Turley
Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
16th Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 25 September 2025 to Question 74509 on Members: Pay, whether the pay freeze for ministers who continue to claim a lower salary to their entitlement under law will be maintained for Ministers who are Members of the (a) House of Commons and (b) House of Lords for the rest of this Parliament.

The pay freeze for ministers remains in place.

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
16th Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 2 September 2025 to Question 69366 on 9 Downing Street: Repairs and Maintenance, what the provisional cost of the works approved is.

A one-off refresh of the facility was undertaken in December 2024. This has restored the room back to its original politically neutral state. The indicative cost of these works was up to £80,000, as was reported at the time of undertaking the work. The final cost of these works will be published in due course in Cabinet Office transparency returns, when the invoice is submitted and paid.

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
16th Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 3 September 2025 to Question 70476 on UK Multi-Stakeholder Forum for Open Government, for what reason that forum has not met in 2025.

The next MSF is being organised to take place before the end of 2025. There have been no meetings of the MSF thus far in 2025 due to a Machinery of Government change which moved the former Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO) from Cabinet Office to the Department for Science Innovation and Technology. CDDO was the business unit previously responsible for open government policy, but this responsibility has now transferred to the Civil Service Strategy Unit within Cabinet Office.

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
16th Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of section 1 of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill on judicial reviews of (a) public bodies and (b) Ministerial decisions.

Clause 1 of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill sets out that the purpose of the Bill is to ensure that public authorities and public officials at all times perform their functions (a) with candour, transparency and frankness, and (b) in the public interest. Clause 1 then sets out how the remainder of the Bill achieves that purpose.

Clause 1 does not in itself establish new obligations subject to judicial review.

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
16th Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the minimum level of security vetting is for people taking part in civil service internship schemes.

All Fast Stream Summer Interns will complete the Baseline Personal Security Standard (BPSS) checks as part of their onboarding. Candidates will be put forward for higher levels of clearance if their placement requires it. It is a condition of employment that candidates are required to successfully obtain all necessary levels of clearance prior to taking up their placement.

Anna Turley
Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
15th Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2025 to Question 75368 on Parliamentary and Political Service Committee: Public Appointments, what the remaining period of time is for each of the independent members’ current terms of office.

The Parliamentary and Political Service Honours Committee (PPS Committee) is one of ten specialist honours committees, made up of individuals with considerable experience of the area the committee covers.

The current membership of the PPS Committee comprises an independent chair and four independent members each appointed through a public appointments process, and three official members who are the incumbent chief whips from the three largest political parties in the House of Commons.

The current independent committee memberships appointment terms are as follows:

  • Chair: Dame Rosie Winterton DBE. Appointed August 2025 for a 5 year term.

  • Member: Lord Johnny Oates. Appointed July 2024 for a 5 year term.

  • Member:Lord Iain McNicol. Appointed July 2024 for a 5 year term.

  • Member: Professor Stephanie Rickard. Appointed November 2024 for a 5 year term.

  • Member: Craig Stephenson OBE. Appointed November 2024 for a 5 year term.

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
15th Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the total expenditure was on Government Car Service cars for Ministers in the week of (a) 1 September 2025 and (b) 8 September 2025.

Expenditure details for the period requested are not yet available. Invoicing for Ministerial car usage covering the specified dates has not yet been raised or processed.

Dan Jarvis
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
15th Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Government Response to the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament Report 'IRAN', published in September 2025, CP 1403, what information the Government holds on whether hostile actors from Iran have infiltrated Parliament through parliamentary staffers.

HMG does not routinely comment on the details of operational matters or specific threats.

However, we take all threats to national security, including those from Iran, incredibly seriously. Whilst the security of Parliament is a matter for the Parliament, HMG will do whatever is needed to help keep our democratic institutions safe from foreign interference and espionage threats.

This includes protecting them from malign Iranian influence activity in the UK, including placing the whole of the Iranian State- including Iran’s intelligence services- on the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme. This means that those who are directed by Iran to conduct activities in the UK must register that activity, whatever it is, or face 5 years in prison.

On 13 October, MI5’s National Protective Security Authority published new guidance to better protect the UK’s democratic institutions from all foreign interference and espionage threats.The guidance is designed to help MPs, peers, councillors, Parliamentary staff and candidates understand the threat and take simple, effective steps to protect themselves, their teams, and the integrity of the UK’s democracy.

Dan Jarvis
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
15th Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 2 September 2025 to Question 70506 on Cabinet Office: Contracts, whether the Crown Commercial Service has made an estimate of the number of suppliers increasing prices as a result of the increase in National Insurance.

Crown Commercial Service (CCS) does not hold information that would show whether suppliers have increased prices in response to the April 2025 National Insurance rise, so cannot make an estimate. Pricing under CCS arrangements is determined at contract level by contracting authorities.

Chris Ward
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
15th Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Civil Service staff networks to only meet outside working hours and have all events signed off by senior managers, published on 23 September 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of that policy on the provisions on trade union equality representatives in the Employment Rights Bill.

Civil Service staff networks are separate to trade union activities and duties carried out by trade union representatives in the Civil Service. As such the Civil Service Staff Network Policy does not apply to its trade union representatives.

Anna Turley
Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
14th Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 4 August 2025 to Question HL9337 on Ministers: Official Residences, if he will publish the internal document which states that the sponsoring department will pay the council tax bill for the Minister.

Ministers are advised on allocation of an official residence that the responsibility for payment of council tax depends on whether the property is their primary or secondary residence. This is a long-standing policy position in place for successive administrations, reflected in a parliamentary question to the then Prime Minister the Rt Hon Sir Tony Blair as follows:

“The level and responsibility for payment of council tax is determined on whether the property is the Minister's main or secondary residence. If a main residence, the responsibility for payment of the tax falls to the Minister. If the property is a secondary residence, responsibility for payment falls to the responsible Department.”

This question is available at the following link: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199900/cmhansrd/vo000605/text/00605w14.htm#00605w14.html_spmin0.

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
14th Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 4 September 2025 to Question 70468 on Government Communication Service: Staff, what is the most recent estimate of the headcount size of the Government Communication Service, using the same methodology used by the Cabinet Office in the response to FOI IR2025/05101.

The figures cited in the parliamentary question and the FOI Internal Review of Government Communications remain the most up to date information available as the 2025 Data Collection is still undergoing validation.

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
14th Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 23 September 2025 to Question 71198 on Unherd: Advertising, whether the Government Communication Service SAFE framework currently permits government advertising on the websites of (a) The Sun, (b) The Daily Star, (c) Spiked and (d) Ladbible.

SAFE framework assessments have been conducted on The Sun, The Daily Star, and Ladbible, and they have been assessed as appropriate for government advertising. No SAFE framework assessment has been conducted on Spiked.

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
14th Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on making the appointment of Ambassadors subject to the regulated public appointments process.

Heads of Mission are civil servants and as such are subject to different recruitment and appointment rules and processes to public appointees. The Cabinet Office has no plans to make such roles subject to the regulated public appointment process.

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
14th Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many Permanent Secretaries have left their posts since July 2024; and what was the cost to the public purse of exit packages.

Since July 2024, thirteen Permanent Secretaries have left their posts. Any exit package costs are published in Departmental Annual Reports and Accounts for the financial years in which they were made.

Anna Turley
Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
13th Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to publish an updated list of Ministerial responsibilities.

I refer the Hon Member to the response given to Question HL10390 of 26 September.

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
13th Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 17 September 2025 to Question HL10221 on Baroness Shafik, what Baroness Shafik's remuneration is.

It would not be appropriate to comment on individuals. The level of remuneration and the management of relevant outside interests for this role have been agreed in line with relevant guidance and processes.

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
13th Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the interests of the new Executive Director of Communications in 10 Downing Street.

There is a rigorous process to ensure any potential conflicts of interest are captured, and have appropriate mitigations in place to reflect specific circumstances. Ahead of his appointment, the new Executive Director of Communications in 10 Downing Street fully complied with this process.

This is set out in the Special Adviser Code of Conduct and lists of Special Adviser interests are published annually.

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
13th Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 23 September 2025 to Question 75722 on Government Departments: Advertising, how much was spent by each Department by (a) platform and (b) programme or activity.

For section (a) please see the below table, noting that some figures may differ slightly from those previously stated in the referenced parliamentary question. This is due to different accounting practices related to departmental reporting categorisations versus billing categorisations.

The information is being provided in this format to protect potential sensitivities.

META

LINKEDIN IRELAND LIMITED

NEXTDOOR

PINTEREST

REDDIT UK LIMITED

SNAPCHAT

TIKTOK INFO TECH UK LTD

WEARE8 LTD

£ 11,609,948.92

£ 5,387,475.63

£ 377,751.18

£ 484,954.15

£ 2,224,133.70

£ 5,590,619.38

£ 381,702.50

£ 10,000.00

For section (b), the information requested is not held in a format suitable for publication.

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
13th Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to paragraph 2.43 of the Spring Statement 2025, CP 1298, published on 26 March 2025, how many civil servants have left through the employee exit scheme.

Information on the number of civil servants that have left under employee exit schemes is not held centrally.

Anna Turley
Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
16th Sep 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his Department's policy is on allowing trade union activities to be funded from trade union facility time at public expense.

The Cabinet Office Facility Time Framework states that the default position within the Civil Service is that paid time off will not be given for trade union activities. In exceptional circumstances, should a department wish to provide paid time off for activities, it will need to be agreed by their Secretary of State or Chief Executive.

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