Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the document entitled Civil Service 2024/2025 External Expenditure on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, published on 30 May 2025, which suppliers were used to provide the International Women's Day event.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The event referred to was a practical development and leadership event designed for female members of Border Force staff.
Suppliers for the logistical arrangements were procured in line with government procurement rules, which are always designed to ensure the best value for taxpayers and are consistently reviewed.
Further information regarding the guidance for these events is available at the following address: Civil Service Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Expenditure Guidance - GOV.UK.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 21 May 2025 to Question HL7327 on Independent Office for Police Conduct, for what reason the Independent Office for Police Conduct continues to hold a paid membership of Stonewall, in the context of the cancellation of subscriptions by the (a) Home Office and (b) other departments.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Independent Office for Police Conduct is independent of the Home Office and other Departments.
Subscriptions to third party organisations are for them to decide.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment her Department has made of the risk of large-scale disorder in (a) a single area and (b) multiple areas in Great Britain.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Cabinet Office publishes a regular National Risk Register (National Risk Register 2025 - GOV.UK), including assessments relating to large-scale disorder, and the government also continues to work closely on an ongoing basis with the police who are responsible for monitoring threats to public orders.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 29 October 2024 to Question HL1634 on Royal and VIP Executive Committee, who represents (a) her Department, (b) the Cabinet Office and (c) the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The terms of reference for the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (RAVEC) agreed in 2021 set out the Committee’s membership, which includes the Home Office, Cabinet Office, and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
These departments are represented in the Committee by:
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 14 May 2025 to Question 48955 on MI5: Stonewall, for what reason MI5 renewed its membership of Stonewall.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
MI5 does not comment publicly on internal policy or organisational decisions.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria her Department will use to determine which countries are on the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
As set out in the National Security Act 2023, the Secretary of State may make a specification under the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS) where they consider it is reasonably necessary to do so to protect the safety or interests of the United Kingdom.
The Secretary of State will consider a broad range of UK interests when deciding if a country should be specified, and the nature and scope of any such specification. This will include how a specification would support the UK’s national security and the Government’s long-term, strategic approach to the country under consideration.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 8 April 2025 to Question 42602 on Stonewall subscriptions, whether MI5 pays subscription fees to Stonewall.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
MI5 last renewed its paid membership as a 'Diversity Champion' of Stonewall in October 2024.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 2 April 2025 to Question 41050 on Foreign Influence Registration Scheme: China, if she will place in the Library a copy of each representation from CityUK in relation to China and the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Government does not routinely publish correspondence from external organisations and stakeholders as this may inhibit the free exchange of views and information necessary for the effective conduct of policy development.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether appointments to the Border Security Command will be included in the Public Bodies Order in Council; and whether the chair appointment will be classified as a significant appointment.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Border Security Command was established on 5 July 2024. Martin Hewitt CBE QPM was appointed as Border Security Commander, as a Civil Servant, on 7 October 2024.
The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill will place the role of the Border Security Commander on a statutory footing, designating the postholder as a Civil Servant (Part 1, Chapter 1, Clause 1).
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether TheCityUK has made representations to her Department on China’s classification in the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Home Office has engaged with a number of sectors and their representatives on the implementation of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme, including The City UK.
Engaging with businesses and other stakeholders is a normal and important policy development.