Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2025, to Question 20957 on Government departments: communication and public consultation, if she will list the (a) Department, (b) theme and (c) estimated saving of each of the campaigns (i) that were cancelled, (ii) continuing with reduced budgets and (iii) aiming to reduce their expenditure by 25%.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
There are currently no plans to publish this list in detail.
The comprehensive communications Spending Review identified 39 campaigns that were cancelled, 46 campaigns continuing with reduced budgets and 46 campaigns aiming to reduce their expenditure by 25%.
The combined savings from these measures total £85 million in 2024-25 and up to £96 million in 2025-26.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2025 to Question 23677 on Gender Dysphoria: Health Services, whether he plans to consult on the revised Gender Reassignment HR policy and guidance.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The revised draft of the Civil Service model Gender Reassignment HR policy and guidance is currently out for consultation with key stakeholders across Government. As is the case for other civil service employee policies, whilst there is internal engagement with a range of stakeholders in the Civil Service, there are no plans for an external consultation.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the Public Bodies 2023 data tool remains operable in the future; and whether the 2023 dataset will be in searchable in the National Archives.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Cabinet Office is currently exploring with National Archives whether it is appropriate to publish the dataset from the 2022/23 Financial Year on the National Archive’s Transfer Digital Records service. Regardless, the ALB Landscape 2023 will remain online and accessible on gov.uk.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make it his policy to reduce the (a) number and (b) cost of arms length bodies.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Chancellor has launched Phase 2 of the Spending Review which will zero-base all spending, including arm’s length bodies (ALBs), conducting a full line-by-line review of all public spending to assess whether it is a priority for this government and represents value for money for the taxpayer.
Building on the 2% productivity, efficiency, and savings target the government set departments in Phase 1 of the Spending Review, departments and ALBs are expected in Phase 2 to identify a minimum of 5% savings against their day-to-day spending, freeing up funding to achieve the government’s priorities. The Spending Review will conclude on 11 June 2025.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2024 to Question 7438 on Prime Minister: Senior Civil Servants, what the criteria was that the Cabinet Secretary used to select which candidates for the Principle Private Secretary position to recommend to the Prime Minister.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The advertised criteria set out in the Principal Private Secretary candidate pack was used to select candidates to recommend to the Prime Minister.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the grades were of the staff that supported the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards with his review into the hon. Member for Hampstead and Highgate; and which divisions those staff work in.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 28th January, in response to PQ 24882.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's press release entitled New Permanent Under-Secretary Appointed at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, published on 8 January 2025, whether the new Permanent Under-Secretary has made a declaration of political activity; and if he will publish the Permanent Under-Secretary’s declared financial interests.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
As per the normal appointment process to the Senior Civil Service, the Permanent under-Secretary at FCDO was asked to complete a standard SCS declaration of interest form. As set out in the guidance on SCS declaration of interests (here), departments must ensure relevant interests of their Permanent Secretary and other SCS on their Board are declared in their Annual Reports and Accounts.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many domestic airmiles the Prime Minister has travelled on official business since 5 July 2024.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Government publishes details of the cost of overseas Ministerial travel on gov.uk, including costs of travel, and on other costs (visas, accommodation, meals). As has been the case under successive administrations, the Government does not publish granular detail on Ministers’ travel at home or abroad.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the grades were of the staff that supported the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards with his review into the hon. Member for Hampstead and Highgate; and which divisions those staff work in.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
I refer the hon Member to the answer provided on 17 September 2024 (UIN 4672). The secretariat team supporting the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards, Sir Laurie Magnus, continues to be part of the Propriety & Ethics directorate and is led by a Senior Civil Servant.
As set out in his advice to the Prime Minister, published on 14 January 2025, Sir Laurie undertook an exercise to establish the facts in line with his terms of reference as the Prime Minister’s Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 16 January 2025 to Question 22996 on Ministers: Questionnaires, what assessment he has made of the (a) efficiency and (b) effectiveness of his Department's Propriety and Ethics team.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
All teams within the Cabinet Office are subject to the department's performance management processes.