Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to publish an annual written statement on charges incurred by Departments for the use of official government cars for Ministers.
Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The annual written statement on charges incurred by departments for the use of official government cars for Ministers ceased in 2018 under the previous administration. There are no plans to resume it.
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 30 June 2025 to Question 60489 on Universities: Fees and Charges, whether young people from EU member states coming to the UK under the proposed UK-EU youth mobility scheme would pay international student fees.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
We have agreed that we will work towards the establishment of a balanced youth experience scheme with the EU. Any scheme will be time-limited and capped, and we have also been clear that it should be in line with the UK’s existing schemes with countries like Australia and New Zealand. The primary purpose of a youth mobility scheme is cultural exchange and to give young people opportunities to experience life overseas on a temporary basis. We have not agreed to offer home fee status to EU students. Most new EU students who were not lawfully resident in the UK before the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020 pay international fees.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government Property Agency provides free tampons in (a) female and (b) male toilets.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Government Property Agency (GPA) provides free tampons in female toilets at Birmingham, 23 Stephenson Street, Nottingham, Apex Court, London, 70 Whitehall and Coventry, Cheylesmore House. Tampons are not provided by the GPA in any male toilets.
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 update the About us section of the National Security and Intelligence webpage on gov.uk.
Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The “about us” section of the National Security and Intelligence webpage will be updated shortly.
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 22 May 2025, to Question 53205, on Intelligence and Security Committee, whether the Prime Minister will meet with the Intelligence and Security Committee before the summer recess.
Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Prime Minister met the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) on 14 July. The Prime Minister was pleased to have the opportunity to reset the relationship between the Government and the ISC, and discuss a range of important issues pertaining to national security and the Committee’s remit.
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 the guidance entitled Civil Service 2024/2025 External Expenditure on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, published on 30 May 2025, what the Cross-Civil Service Pride funding was spent on; and which suppliers were used.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The £8,500 funding listed in the data published on 30 May 2025 was the maximum approved budget. The current spend is £7,395. This money supported staff to participate in a number of Pride events across the UK.
Naming supplier organisations may breach commercial agreements between the department and suppliers. All purchasing followed Cabinet Office guidance appropriate to the level of spend.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether TotalEnergies Gas & Power and its subsidiaries supply gas to 10 Downing Street; and what assessment he has made of whether TotalEnergies' LNG gas is sourced from Russia.
Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The UK has ended all imports of Russian fossil fuels in response to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. This contract started under the previous government.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what progress has been made on appointing the new Conservative political member for the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments.
Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The appointment of political members to the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA) is a decision for the Prime Minister following nomination from the relevant Party with a vacancy. A decision on the appointment of a Conservative member to the Committee will be confirmed as soon as possible.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the National Security Adviser is (a) secretary of the National Security Council, (b) head of the National Security Secretariat and (c) Principal Accounting Officer for the Single Intelligence Account.
Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The role of secretary to the National Security Council is fulfilled by the Deputy National Security Advisers. The Executive Deputy National Security Adviser is the corporate head of the National Security Secretariat. The Cabinet Secretary is the Principal Accounting Officer for the Single Intelligence Account.
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 answers of 3 June 2025 to Question 53890 on Civil Servants: Media and Public Speaking, and 18 June 2025 to Question 59753 on Civil Servants: Media and Public Speaking, if he will publish the guidance issued to civil servants.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Civil Service Management Code makes clear that civil servants “must clear in advance material for publication, broadcasts or other public discussion which draws on official information or experience.”
As it has done for several years, the Government continues to approve public activity by civil servants on a case-by-case basis. Informal, internal guidance is available to support this decision-making process. There are no plans to publish this.