Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Attorney General, with reference to the Answer of 11 March 2026, to Question 110793, on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Flexible Working, how many and what proportion of full-time staff on full pay (1.0 FTE) in (a) her Department and (b) Crown Prosecution Service work compressed hours over a four day week.

Answered by Andy Slaughter - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)

The tables below contain data for the Attorney General's Office (AGO) and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) relevant to the question.

AGO

CPS

Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Attorney General, with reference to the letter entitled, Simplification and Agency of Government - Letter to all ministers, of 7 September 2026, whether she plans to legislate to disapply the Gunning principles and case law on consultation requirements and expectations, including R v London Borough of Brent ex parte Gunning (1985).

Answered by Andy Slaughter - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what figures does the Department hold of central government expenditure on consultancy spending in each year since 2023-24.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Each Central Government Department publishes details of their consultancy expenditure within their individual Annual Report and Accounts.

Based on these reports, in 2023/24, Government spending on consultancy including NHS was £1,224m. In 2024/25, this figure stood at £1,095m.

Not all Departments have published their Annual Report and Accounts for 2025/26 so it is not possible to provide a total spending figure for that year at this stage.

Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Attorney General, pursuant to the answer of 28 August 2026, to Question 17707, on Attorney General’s Office staff, if she will list each external organisation that has seconded staff to the department since July 2026, and each organisation to which Civil Servants have been seconded.

Answered by Andy Slaughter - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)

Since July 2026, no staff have been seconded to the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) from external organisations. During the same period, no AGO civil servants have been seconded to external organisations.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the No10 press release entitled Prime Minister puts public control, community regeneration and cost-of-living at the heart of plans to ‘rewire Britain’, published on 2 September 2026, what are the full terms of reference of each of the new taskforces established by the Prime Minister; who are the members of each; and whether they have the status of Cabinet Committees.

Answered by Sally Jameson - Parliamentary Secretary and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The taskforces have been established to deliver on the immediate priorities of the public, building on action the government has already taken. They will be made up of internal civil service and relevant external expertise and operate with ministerial oversight, but are not cabinet committees. The objectives of the taskforces are laid out within the quoted press release.

Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Attorney General, with reference to the letter, "Simplification and Agency of Government - Letter to all ministers", of 7 September 2026, if she will make it her policy to place the updated legal risk guidance in the Library of the House once it has been produced.

Answered by Ellie Reeves - Attorney General

My updated Legal Risk guidance was published on GOV.UK on 8th September 2026. I have directed my officials to place a copy in the Library of the House.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Cabinet Office policy paper, Rewiring the State – Cabinet Statement, of 31 July 2026, how many statutory duties to consult has the Cabinet Office identified.

Answered by Sally Jameson - Parliamentary Secretary and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Using the AI tool, the Cabinet Office has identified approximately 7000 statutory duties to consult.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will list each programme on the PSFA High Fraud Risk portfolio, by department and public body.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The High Fraud Risk Portfolio (HFRP) provides a common view over the areas of highest fraud risk in government.

The government does not intend to list each programme on the HFRP on the basis that the risks of publication outweigh the benefits. The government however has provided the HFRP to the Public Accounts Committee for independent scrutiny and oversight.

The Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA), in partnership with HM Treasury, will continue to work closely with departments that have programmes in the portfolio to enhance their management of fraud risk.

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, pursuant to the answer of 30 June 2026, to Question 9612, on EHRC: Code of Practice, if she will itemise the changes made between the draft of September 2025 and the updated version of April 2026; and whether there were additional changes made to the April 2026 version.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The EHRC submitted a draft to us in September 2025. EHRC continued to work on it and submitted an updated version in April 2026. They made the decision to amend the draft Code following feedback, consultation responses and legal advice. More information on EHRC’s decision can be found on EHRC’s website detailing the minutes of the Special meeting of the Board: 13 April 2026, which can be found here: https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/about-us/transparency-and-corporate-reporting/board-meetings

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 9 July 2026, to Question 14616, on Angling: Licensing, if she will list each spending control approval for communications, marketing and advertising spend from July 2025, listing the public body, campaign topic or purpose, and amount.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

This information is not centrally held by the Government Communication Service.

Departments and public bodies are responsible for publishing their own spending control information, in accordance with the Government's transparency requirements.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 24 June 2026 to Question 10643 on Freedom of Information: Databases, how many FOI requests have received a substantive response so far in calendar year 2026, where the information was substantively disclosed; and if she will list a summary of the information requested in each case, according to information held by the Fivium e-case database.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Outcomes of FOI requests are published on a quarterly and annual basis, on GOV.UK at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/freedom-of-information-statistics. Providing a summary as requested for those cases closed so far in 2026 could only be achieved at disproportionate cost.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the European Partnership Bill will contain powers to amend legislation to adopt EU legislative provisions; and whether there will be secondary legislation with negative and affirmative provisions.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

As confirmed in the King’s Speech, the Government will be bringing forward the European Partnership Bill to implement any agreements between the UK and the EU. We will share further details in due course and Parliament will have the opportunity to scrutinise the Bill in the usual way.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate her Department has made of the differences in average salaries, for roles of the same grade, between (a) DHSC and (b) NHS England; and whether respective salaries will be levelled up or levelled down as a result of the planned merger.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

I have nothing to add at this time to the answer I gave the Hon. Member on 11 September in response to Question 21703, but as and when there are further updates to report, we will ensure that the House is informed.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 3 September 2026 to Question 19042 on Civil Servants: Redundancy, whether the dismissal of Oliver Robbins was undertaken under the (a) 2010 and (b) 1992 Act.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

It is a longstanding policy not to comment on HR matters.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the publication, Expenditure Over £25,000 - July 2026 (Cabinet Office Core), 27 August 2026, what was the nature of the expenditure undertaken and for what goods and services, in relation to the transaction, Ethics and Integrity Commission, Bloom Procurement Services Ltd, Ref: 1037287099, for £37,895.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The expenditure relates to Codes of Ethical Conduct research projects. The Ethics and Integrity Commission is independent of Government.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 28 August 2026 to Question 14862 on Elections: Scotland, if she will place the internal reminder guidance given to departments on Parliamentary by-elections in Scotland in the Library.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

I refer the honourable Member to the answer given on 28 May 2026 to Question UIN 2754. The government does not routinely publish internal guidance.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Civil Service job advert, Press Secretary to the Secretary of State Department of Health and Social Care, Reference number 475472, for what reason the length of employment is limited to 24 months.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The post in question has been advertised on exactly the same basis as the last time the role was filled in Summer 2024.

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, pursuant to the answer of 30 June 2026 to Question 12159 on Cabinet Office: Marketing, whether the Equality and Human Rights Commission has undertaken any expenditure on branded goods since the Government Chief Commercial Officer letter.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The EHRC is an independent arm’s length body that is operationally independent of the Government, and it is for the EHRC to decide on how it allocates its budget and operational activity. The Equality Act 2006 sets out the legal duty for the Secretary of State to lay before Parliament a copy of EHRC's Annual Reports and Accounts for the previous financial year. On 8 July, the EHRC published its Annual Report and Accounts for the financial year 2025-2026, which can be found here: https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/about-us/transparency-and-corporate-reporting/annual-reports.

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what plans she has to commence section 14 of the Equality Act 2010 on combined discrimination.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

In our manifesto, we committed to strengthening protections against dual discrimination. Last year we launched a call for evidence on this commitment, as well as a number of other areas of equality law.

The Government remains committed to strengthening protections against combined discrimination in the most effective way. We are giving responses to the Call for Evidence on Equality Law careful consideration and will confirm next steps in due course.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how much participants were paid to attend the People's Panel on Digital ID weekends in Birmingham in May and June 2026.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

Participants were paid £550 provided they attended all seven sessions across both online and in-person formats. This payment rate was determined in line with industry standards for research participation and public deliberation.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 4 September 2026, to Question 19364, on Summer Internship Scheme, what was the deemed social class of a trade union official used by the Cabinet Office, for the 2026 Fast Stream Summer Internship programme.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Socio-economic background is determined by an applicant’s responses to questions designed by the ONS related to parental occupation when the candidate was 14. In line with other schemes of this nature across the public and private sector, The Cabinet Office uses self-certification for the socio-economic data of applicants. This is the same approach taken under the programme's predecessor - the Summer Diversity Internship Programme - from 2010 to 2023.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2026 to Question 20546 on Cabinet Office: Glasgow, how many Ministerial visits there were in that period.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

I refer the honourable member to the previous answer given to PQ 20546 of 8 September 2026.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether office attendance data is collated for staff who work in No10 North.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Staff are expected to attend in line with departmental attendance policy.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2026, to Question 20855, on Civil Service Commission: Conflict of Interests, whether the Civil Service Commission has made an assessment of whether any of its statutory functions are incapable of delegation by the Commissioners.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Paragraph 14, Schedule 1 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 sets out that the Civil Service Commission may delegate functions to any of its members, committees, employees, or a person with whom arrangements are made in line with the Act. The Commission is operationally independent and its staff, including the Chief Executive, act in accordance with its legislation and under the direction of the independent First Civil Service Commissioner and the other Commissioners.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 7 September 2026 to Question 19029 on Cabinet Office: Marketing, whether the Government Commercial Agency has undertaken any expenditure on (a) re-branding and (b) branded goods since the Government Chief Commercial Officer letter.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Government Commercial Agency (GCA) became operational on 1 April 2026 following the integration of commercial teams from the Cabinet Office and the Crown Commercial Service.

To meet essential operational and security needs following its formation, the agency incurred a total of £2,025.62 on essential branded goods.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 7 September 2026 to Question 16913 on Cabinet Office: Audit, if she will outline which specific element of the Civil Service Recruitment Principles were broken in the serious breach, without disclosing personal information; and whether there has been a fresh competition.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

We are not able to comment to protect personal information. The Cabinet Office has implemented improvements against all of the recommended areas.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the cross-government FOI Practitioners’ Forum last met.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Information Rights Forum, which brings together FOI practitioners from across central government, last met on 23 July this year.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 1 September 2026, to Question HL2133, on International Court of Justice, on how many occasions has the UK Government submitted (a) written submissions and (b) oral submissions to the International Court of Justice since July 2024, and on what matters.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Since July 2024, the UK has made written submissions to the International Court of Justice in the following seven occasions, concerning five matters:

(1) "Allegations of Genocide under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Ukraine v. Russian Federation)" on 2 August 2024;

(2) "Obligations of States in respect of Climate Change" on 12 August 2024 and 20 December 2024;

(3) "Aerial Incident of 8 January 2020 (Canada, Sweden, Ukraine and the United Kingdom v. Islamic Republic of Iran) on 16 October 2024 and 16 May 2025;

(4) "The Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (The Gambia v. Myanmar: 11 States intervening)" on 3 March 2025;

(5) "Appeal relating to the Jurisdiction of the ICAO Council under Article 84 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Islamic Republic of Iran v. Canada, Sweden, Ukraine and United Kingdom) on 27 March 2026.

Since July 2024, the UK has delivered oral statements to the International Court of Justice on the following three occasions:

(1) "Obligations of States in respect of Climate Change" in December 2024;

(2) "Obligations of Israel in relation to the Presence and Activities of the United Nations, Other International Organizations and Third States in and in relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territory" in May 2025

(3) "Right to Strike under ILO Convention No. 87" in October 2025.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 3 September 2026 to Question 18047 on Lord Mandelson, whether the Lord Glasman communications have been withheld at the request of the Metropolitan Police.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The documents published across the first and second tranches represent the entirety of the material held by the Government available for disclosure, with the exception of those documents withheld exclusively at the request of the Metropolitan Police. To avoid prejudicing active law enforcement inquiries, it would be inappropriate to comment on whether specific individual items of correspondence form part of the material withheld by the police.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much his Department has spent on the supply of goods from Berry Bros since July 2024.

Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has paid Berry Bros a total of £19,457.11 ex VAT since July 2024. Purchases were for the purpose of ministerial hospitality.

For context, the average annual GBP payment to Berry Brothers between 2010 - 2017 was £16k per annum.

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, pursuant to the answer of 18 June 2026 to Question 9022 on Education: Equality, whether the socio-economic duty will apply to policies and decisions on Civil Service recruitment.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

A full list of public bodies subject to the SED will be published upon commencement. The Socio-Economic Duty (SED) will embed consideration of socio-economic disadvantage into public sector decision-making. It will require specified public authorities to have due regard to how their strategic decisions can reduce inequalities of outcomes associated with socio-economic disadvantage.

We are currently working towards commencement, which includes drafting statutory guidance that will clarify how the duty can be applied effectively. As part of this process, we are working with listed public bodies to ensure the guidance supports them effectively.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether the Interim Director General of the Digital Transformation Group is a permanent or temporary civil servant.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The interim Director General for Digital Transformation was appointed as a temporary civil servant on a fixed term contract.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the answer of 22 July 2026, to Question 18834, on Department for Culture, Media and Sport: International Cooperation, whether there is a consolidated list of international agreements that the core Department has signed since July 2024.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Treaties section of the UK Parliament’s website lists international agreements which are subject to parliamentary scrutiny under the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010. An official record of the UK's treaty obligations under international law is also available via the UK Treaties Online resource.

Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Attorney General, what advice have the Law Officers given on the personal legal liability of a Secretary of State for actions of their department; and what legal indemnifications are in place for Ministers.

Answered by Andy Slaughter - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)

The Law Officers’ Convention applies to advice which may or may not have been given by the Law Officers, or requested of the Law Officers, and the Convention applies to your question.

The Law Officers’ Convention can be found at paragraph 21.27 of Erskine May:

“By long-standing convention, observed by successive Governments, the fact of, and substance of advice from, the law officers of the Crown is not disclosed outside government. This convention is referred to in paragraph [5.14] of the Ministerial Code [updated on 13 October 2025]. The purpose of this convention is to enable the Government to obtain frank and full legal advice in confidence.”

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2026, to Question 20539, on Government Departments: Data Protection, what is the advice of the Cabinet Office data protection officer on whether the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR allows for the publication by the Cabinet Office of the declared political activity of a Cabinet Office direct ministerial appointment.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Cabinet Office Data Protection Officer has not been asked to advise on whether the declared political activity of a Cabinet Office direct ministerial appointment can be published.

Under the existing Data Protection Impact Assessment for the Cabinet Office public appointments team there is no arrangement in place for the declared political activity of a direct ministerial appointment to be published.

Political opinions constitute special category data under UK GDPR. Before such data could be published it would be necessary for the department to comply with all data protection principles and legal requirements. This would form part of a Data Protection Impact Assessment that would need to be undertaken by the department.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 28 August 2026 to Question 20738 on Royal Family: Funerals, whether there is an Operation Bridge equivalent plan for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor; and whether Mr Mountbatten-Windsor will receive a royal ceremonial funeral following his removal from the Roll of the Peerage.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

As previously stated in the answer of 28 August 2026 to Question 20738, the Royal Household is responsible for funeral arrangements for Members of the Royal Family, assisted by the Government in the delivery of plans as needed. The Government does not disclose the details of funeral plans for any members of the Royal Family.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2026, to Question 20905, on Public Appointments: Political Activities, whether the requirement to follow the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies requires any declared political activity of Direct Ministerial Appointments to be published publicly in line with the requirements for regulated public appointments.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The conflict of interest process for Direct Ministerial Appointments, which includes declarations political activity, is set out in the answer to Question 20905.

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the consultation outcome, Consultation on mandatory ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting: government response, of 25 March 2026, from what financial year will the reports be mandatory.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

We are working to introduce legislation on mandatory ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting for large employers as soon as parliamentary time allows. Mandatory reporting dates are subject to the passage of necessary legislation.

We will continue to engage with large employers and other interested stakeholders as the plans are developing, and ensure that they are kept informed of timescales.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the ONS job vacancy published on Civil Service jobs, Programme Financial Support - Census, Reference 461707, closing date 4 August 2026, what is the policy of the Cabinet Office on Civil Service jobs being only available to candidates who live in a specific constituent nation at the point of application.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)

The Cabinet Office does not maintain a central policy governing the specific locations in which Civil Service roles must be advertised. Instead, authority regarding recruitment location strategy is delegated to government departments, enabling them to decide locations in line with their specific operational requirements and local departmental policies.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2026 to Question 20529 on Government Departments: Cost Effectiveness, if she will publish the full summary report.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the hon. Member's Parliamentary Question of 11th September is attached.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for how many months has the Independent Chair of the Parliamentary and Political Service Committee been vacant; and what is the status of the replacement.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

In July 2026, The Rt Hon Baroness Winterton of Doncaster DBE stepped down as the Chair of the Parliamentary and Political Service Honours Committee. A competition to appoint her successor will launch in Autumn 2026.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Prime Minister has given guidance to his private office on the length of written submissions to him by civil servants and special advisers.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

It is routine for incoming ministers to provide their private office with working preferences.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff had held meetings with representatives of Arden Strategies since his appointment.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Relevant meetings are published in Special Adviser transparency publications on GOV.UK.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 1 September 2026 to Question 19032 on Budget November 2025: Disclosure of Information, whether proposed revisions to the Ministerial Code will make the Code (a) more strict and (b) more permissive in relation to media briefings.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Government has committed to updating the Ministerial Code to strike the right balance between Parliament's vital constitutional role and Ministers' core responsibility to keep the public informed about policy changes. Updates to the Ministerial Code will be made in due course and published on GOV.UK.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason responsibility for the National Fraud Initiative has been transferred to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions; and whether changes to legislation are required to facilitate that change.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The transfer of the Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA), and the National Fraud Initiative (NFI) - an exercise operated by the PSFA - to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) delivers on the Prime Minister’s commitment to create a stronger, more strategic centre of government, whereby functions of government become more aligned with departments better suited for their purpose.

As part of DWP, the PSFA will use its unique expertise and tools to tackle fraud and error, both in welfare and across the public sector, and deliver strong financial savings for the taxpayer - building on the £2.9 billion the NFI has delivered to date.

As per the standard process of a Machinery of Government change, officials are working to scope the requirements of the transfer in relation to the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014, which is the legislation underpinning the NFI, and other legislation underpinning the work of the PSFA.

In particular under the Ministers of Crown Act 1975, a Transfer of Functions Order (TFO) may be made where there is legislation that requires amendment to ensure a relevant Minister taking over the functions, as well as any related powers, in that legislation can properly exercise them.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, further to the answer of 23 July 2026 to Question HL1906 on Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Buildings, what is the policy of the (a) Government Property Agency and (b) Office for Government Property on the recommended staff: desk ratio, and what are the government standards referenced in that answer.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Government Property Agency (GPA) and the Office for Government Property (OGP) work closely to ensure the government estate is efficient, sustainable, and fit for purpose.

(a) In respect of the Government Property Agency (GPA), there is no prescribed policy dictating a mandatory staff-to-desk ratio. Instead, the GPA utilises the Architecture Handbook (an annex of the Government Workplace Design Guide) that provides guidance for designers. Rather than strict policy, the handbook provides guidance regarding the ratio of desks and other workpoints. Implementation relies heavily on individual building configurations and department working styles to determine the appropriate provision of workpoints in a given building/project.

It should be noted that this guidance applies primarily to new-build projects or significant refurbishments. In the case of the GPA’s inherited estate, the GPA inherits and maintains the existing workplace arrangements of the client department until such time as a significant refurbishment is undertaken.

The GPA does not dictate workspace usage ratios to its client departments; workspace design is delivered in collaboration with client departments and workpoint allocation is determined based on ways-of-working and occupancy ratios.

(b) Within government functional standard GovS 004, Property, there is no stated policy in respect to space utilisation in the office estate portfolio. Space utilisation in the government office portfolio was previously managed towards a target of no more than 8 sqm per person (FTE). Space standards are set out in the Government Workplace Design Guide and are more flexible, with an emphasis on productivity, environmental quality and suitability for changing work patterns.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 12 June 2026 to Question 4166 on Equality: Gender and Intersex, whether the new guidance changes the 13 weeks of paid special leave for transgender staff undergoing gender reassignment.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The model Special Leave suite of products was updated in May 2026 to align with the provision for all other employees, as set out in the model Policy and Guidance: Supporting Trans and Non-binary employees and Supporting Attendance Policy and Guidance. The model policy no longer includes 13 weeks provision for time-off for gender-reassignment and these absences, or time-off for appointments for gender-reassignment reasons, should be treated as any other absence or time-off for appointments.

Departments have delegated authority to determine the terms and conditions of employment for their employees, depending on their specific business requirements and the nature of the role.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, further to the Government Property Agency annual report and accounts 2025-26, HC489, of 13 July 2026, page 10, if she will place in the Library a copy of the Government Internal Audit Agency report which provided the limited assurance opinion.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Government Internal Audit Agency report is produced, in line with their policy, for GPA management and staff only and is not intended for publication. Its substance, however, informs and underpins the Annual Governance Statement prepared by the Accounting Officer, which forms part of the GPA Annual Report and Accounts.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, further to paragraph 15 of the Model Contract for special advisers, what are the mandatory training requirements for (a) Downing Street and (b) Cabinet Office special advisers.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

All staff within the Cabinet Office, including special advisers, are required to complete core mandatory training annually.

The mandatory courses cover essential operational standards across the Civil Service, comprising:

• Security and Data Protection

• Civil Service Expectations

• Counter Fraud, Bribery and Corruption

• Health & Safety

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the publication, Expenditure Over £25,000 - July 2026 (Cabinet Office Core), 27 August 2026, what was the nature of the expenditure undertaken and for what goods and services, DOWNING STREET MODERNISATION PROGRAMME, EQUANS SERVICES LTD, Ref: 1037286835, for £33,424.59.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The referenced expenditure was for electrical works on the Downing Street estate.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 17 July 2026 to Question 18048 on Civil Servants: Workplace Pensions, what the current average time is for deferred members to obtain a Preserved Pension current value statement when requested.

Answered by Sally Jameson - Parliamentary Secretary and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Cabinet Office awarded Capita the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme in November 2023 under the previous government. The current delays facing scheme members are entirely unacceptable, and this Government has taken firm action to resolve them through a clear recovery plan with strict delivery milestones. We have deployed additional resources to expedite priority cases, ensuring that serving and former staff receive the high standard of service they deserve. Regular progress updates remain available to members via the pension portal and GOV.UK.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Cabinet Office news story, "Machinery of Government changes: Fact Sheet", of 22 July 2026, what is the (a) current and (b) target headcount of OneGov Delivery Agency, and whether it is a business unit, executive agency, non-ministerial department or NDPB; and what is the projected annual budget of the department; and whether it is accountable to the (i) Cabinet Office or (ii) Office for the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Answered by Sally Jameson - Parliamentary Secretary and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The OneGov Delivery Agency has yet to be established. The target headcount and budget will be determined as detailed design work progresses. It will be an executive agency within the Cabinet Office Group and will be accountable to the Principal Accounting Officer of the Cabinet Office.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Cabinet Office policy paper, Rewiring the State – Cabinet Statement, of 31 July 2026, whether the Government plans primary legislation to revoke statutory duties to consult; and whether the Government intends to make greater use of Citizen's Assemblies.

Answered by Sally Jameson - Parliamentary Secretary and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government)

As set out in the Rewiring the State statement, the government is considering a range of options, including primary legislation, to streamline statutory consultation duties. We are also exploring how participatory tools, including Citizens' Assemblies, can best support public engagement. Further details will be made available in due course.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the permanent appointment of a new Permanent Under-Secretary is being undertaken through open and fair competition; and whether an external recruitment firm has been hired.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The competition to fill the FCDO Permanent Under-Secretary role has been undertaken through fair and open competition. An external recruitment firm was not hired to support the appointment.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Office for the Prime Minister and Cabinet has spent money on (a) cosmetics and (b) make-up artists for media appearances since the change in Prime Minister.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

No such spending has been made.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether she plans to appoint a Deputy Prime Minister.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

There are no plans to appoint a Deputy Prime Minister.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether departmental special advisers can use the title chief of staff; and what guidance has been given by the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to special advisers on directing (a) civil servants and (b) other special advisers.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Lead special advisers in departments may be titled ‘Chief of Staff’.

As per the Special Adviser Code of Conduct, Special advisers’ are not permitted to exercise any power in relation to the management of any part of the Civil Service, except in relation to another special adviser.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how much the National Lottery Community Fund has spent on public affairs services provided by Lexington since July 2024; and for what purposes.

Answered by Vicky Foxcroft - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The National Lottery Community Fund (‘TNLCF’) has not spent any funds on public affairs services provided by Lexington Communications since July 2024. Since this date, TNLCF has spent £41,725 (excluding VAT) on research services provided by Lexington Communications. This research enables TNLCF to report on key performance indicators linked to its Corporate Plan.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, further to the letter from the First Civil Service Commissioner to Permanent Secretaries dated 22 June 2026, and the letter to the Home Office of 22 June 2026, how many times Special Advisers met candidates during the recruitment process in the case referred to by the First Civil Service Commissioner in her letter of 22 June 2026, and whether any appointment process was suspended, rerun or cancelled as a consequence of that breach.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

It would not be appropriate to comment on individual matters. As set out in the First Civil Service Commissioner's letter to the Home Office of 22 June 2026, the case will be recorded in the Commission’s Annual Report and Accounts for 2026/27 and in the Home Office’s Annual Report and Accounts for 2026/27.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, further to the letter from the First Civil Service Commissioner to Permanent Secretaries dated 22 June 2026, and the letter to the Home Office of 22 June 2026, whether the special adviser remains in post, and whether he was authorised by his sponsoring Minister.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

It would not be appropriate to comment on individual matters. As set out in the First Civil Service Commissioner's letter to the Home Office of 22 June 2026, the case will be recorded in the Commission’s Annual Report and Accounts for 2026/27 and in the Home Office’s Annual Report and Accounts for 2026/27.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2026, to Question 20857, on Civil Servants: Transgender People, if he will place in the Library the written feedback to the model Policy and Guidance from each diversity network which responded, redacting the name of individual civil servants.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Engagement with a range of stakeholders is ongoing, including Civil Service networks. Feedback on internal HR policies and guidance are not published externally.

Section 36(2)(b)(i), and (c) of the Freedom of Information Act was applied based on the qualified opinion that communication, discussion and debate of the model Policy and Guidance: Supporting Trans and Non-binary Employees would inhibit free and frank internal advice. We concluded that safeguarding this space for robust consultation and engagement outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what data HM Treasury holds on the communications (i) outturn spending and (ii) budget of each Whitehall department.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

I refer the Member to the answer to question 20821.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister of the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Cabinet Office's document entitled Leader of the House of Commons and Whips - Ministers' Hospitality - June 2026, updated on 6 August 2026, what was discussed at the meeting between the Rt hon. Member for Stalybridge and Hyde and James Purnell of 4 June 2026.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

As per guidance issued by the Cabinet Office, where hospitality is provided as part of a meeting, a corresponding declaration should be made in both a Minister's meetings and hospitality declarations.

Details of Ministerial meetings for the period of April to June 2026 are due to be published at the end of September.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 24 September 2025 to Question 16028 on Cabinet Office: Ministers, whether any investigations have taken place on such behaviours since July 2024.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Information on advice provided to the Prime Minister by the Independent Adviser in relation to allegations concerning the behaviour and conduct of ministers can be found in his Annual Reports which are published on GOV.UK. The 2024-2025 report is available here and the 2025-2026 report here.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what is the Cabinet Office’s policy on giving compensation in the form of pension contributions as part of a Civil Service Compensation Scheme package when Permanent Secretaries and Cabinet Secretaries leave Crown Service.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Cabinet Office is committed to the responsible management of public money, ensuring that all exit arrangements represent value for the taxpayer. The terms of the Civil Service Compensation Scheme (CSCS) are set out in the 2010 Scheme Rules and apply to all civil servants regardless of grade, including Permanent Secretaries and Cabinet Secretaries.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the new Director General - Future Civil Service was appointed by open and fair competition.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Director General of the Future Civil Service was appointed through a level transfer managed move. The post-holder previously went through fair and open competition to attain that grade.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the answer of 26 March 2026, to Question HL15648, on Government Departments: Security, and of 9 March 2026, to Question 115864, on Street Trading: Westminster Bridge, whether live information from the Government Security Zone Information Room on unlawful (a) pedicabs, (b) ice cream vans, (c) thimbleriggers, (d) 360 degree video booths, (e) caramelised nuts vendors and (f) hot dog vendors, operating on Westminster Bridge is provided by HM Government to the Metropolitan Police.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)

Unlawful activity within this zone is a matter for the police. The police monitor unlawful activity within the Government Secure Zone, and share information with relevant partners. Offences such as illegal street trading are the responsibility of relevant local authorities.

In line with policy under successive administrations, security arrangements within the Government Secure Zone are not subject to detailed public disclosure.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 7 September 2026, to Question 20948, on Civil Servants: Training, whether (a) external consultants or (b) specialist arms of consultancy firms are advising on the established of the National School of Government and Public Services.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Cabinet Office used two existing supplier frameworks to support the establishment of the National School of Government and Public Services.

Through the Learning Frameworks contracts, we engaged support to help us establish the National School as an organisation, including its operating model. Through the Government Communication Service call-off contract, we engaged Accenture Song to develop the brand proposition, visual identity and brand guidelines for the National School, and Omnicom to design a Civil Service-wide learning and development pilot campaign to drive a culture of learning and innovation following the National School's launch.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 28 August 2026 to Question 16502 on Defence: Finance, whether improving broadband infrastructure is included in the classification of critical infrastructure for the purposes of reporting against the 1.5 per cent NATO spending commitment.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)

NATO’s definition for 1.5% reporting sets out that spend should be to protect our critical infrastructure, defend our networks, ensure our civil preparedness and resilience, unleash innovation and strengthen our defence industrial base. The UK Government used these definitions to determine eligible spend. Specific sectors included within that definition are confidential.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what guidance has been given to Ministers from the Cabinet Secretary on (a) Leaks and (b) information security since July 2026.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Ministers play an important role in maintaining the security of government business. New ministers receive security briefings in their first weeks in Government as a priority, which includes guidance on information security. In line with practices across successive Administrations, the Government does not otherwise comment on internal security arrangements.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Prime Minister intends to adopt a (a) written or (b) codified UK constitution.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK’s uncodified constitution has evolved over time and is made up of conventions, statutes, judicial decisions, principles and practices.

The Government’s priority is a politics that works for all people in all places, not some people in some places. We’ve begun the biggest redistribution of power this country has seen. The Government welcomes feedback and continued discussion on the next steps on constitutional reform and will continue to consider a range of views and evidence.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions her Department had with (a) NHS England and (b) the Department of Health and Social Care before issuing Procurement Policy Note 026, on the revised Social Value Model, on 5 August 2026; and whether she expects NHS England's requirements on Carbon Reduction Plans to align with the revised guidance.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The government has been clear that all departments should use public procurement to deliver jobs and skills opportunities.

Procurement Policy Notes (PPNs) are applicable to Central Government Departments, Executive Agencies and Non-Departmental Public Bodies unless otherwise stated in the PPN.

All other public bodies are routinely encouraged to adopt PPNs.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether any gifts or hospitality, accepted in a Ministerial capacity, by Ministers in the (a) Cabinet Office and (b) Downing Street, have been subsequently returned or repaid in calendar year 2026.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Gifts and hospitality accepted in a ministerial capacity are published in the Register of Ministers' Gifts and Hospitality at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/register-of-ministers-gifts-and-hospitality.

Updates to published declarations subsequent to their original publication are reflected in the necessary declaration, and listed on GOV.UK under the 'See All Updates' button.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 28 July 2026, to Question 16155, on Intelligence Services: Summer Internship Programme, whether (a) white British and (b) middle class students, will be able to join a MI5, MI6 or SIS internship scheme in summer 2027.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)

The eligibility criteria for 2027 internship schemes in the United Kingdom Intelligence Community were or will be made publicly available on agency websites when the schemes are advertised.

We are striving wherever possible to ensure that people from backgrounds that are typically underrepresented in these industries are given opportunities they have previously been denied, so we make the most of all of our country’s brilliant talent.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 7 September 2026, to Question 19345, on Peers, whether the then Duke of York applied to be removed from the Roll of the Peerage.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Following a Royal Warrant issued on 30 October 2025, the entry relating to the Duke of York was removed from the Roll of the Peerage. The Royal Warrant is available on the College of Arms website at: https://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/images/downloads/Royal_Warrant_re_Roll_of_the_Peerage_2025.pdf.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Chancellor of the Exchequer (a) accepted and (b) paid back a severance payment following his resignation as Defence Secretary.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Under the Ministerial and Other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991, Ministers aged 65 and older are not entitled to a severance payment.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the publication, Expenditure Over £25,000 - July 2026 (Cabinet Office Core), 27 August 2026, what the event, work activity and topic was relating to the transaction, PMO DOMESTIC VISITS, MGI LONDON LTD, Ref: 1037289238.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The referenced spending is a payment for multiple services and activities to facilitate the Prime Minister's domestic visits.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Review into the Organisation, Performance and Transformation of the Permanent Civil Service, published on 1 July 2026, whether the names, biographies and declarations of interests of members of the external expert advisory panel will be published before they commence their work.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Cabinet Secretary has agreed with the Prime Minister that she will lead a review into the organisation, performance and transformation of the permanent Civil Service, with the aim of setting out a vision for its future as a world class institution serving the duly elected government of the day, building on its existing strengths. An external expert advisory panel will be constituted to inform the review.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Prime Minister pays council tax on his Downing Street residence at 100% of the Band H rate.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Yes.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 17 July 2026 to Question 17754 on Government Departments: Industrial Disputes, what industrial disputes are currently live, and over what grievances, in relation to the (a) Cabinet Office and (b) Office for National Statistics.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Cabinet Office currently has one registered formal trade dispute regarding pay, raised by Unite the Union on behalf of its members who work in the Government Car Service. As far as the Cabinet Office is aware, Unite the Union has not yet balloted its members for industrial action.

There are no industrial disputes currently live at the Office for National Statistics.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 28 August 2026 to Question 18042 on Freedom of Information, if she will place in the Library a copy of the most recent FOI round robin guidance issued by the Cabinet Office to departments on the handling of specific live round robin FOI requests.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

I refer the Member to the previous answer to PQ 20662. The Cabinet Office will not be placing the most recent copy of the list in the Library as it would likely prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs by inhibiting the free and frank provision of advice.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 3 September 2026, to Question 19034, on Minister’s Private Offices, whether the quarterly reviews of the record management policy compliance in relation to the Prime Minister’s Office, since the resignation of Lord Mandelson, have recommended any changes to procedures and processes on the retention of documents, and the recording of decision-making.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The quarterly reviews of policy compliance confirm that the procedures and processes for record keeping in the Cabinet Office are robust.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2026 to Question 20984 on Office for National Statistics: Darlington Economic Campus, what proportion of staff meet the 40% target.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 11th September is attached.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 1 September 2026 to Question 17740 on Permanent Secretaries: pay, if he will place in the Library the senior pay control request.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

No - there are no plans to place the senior pay business case in the Library.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to her Department's guidance entitled PPN 026: The Social Value Model, updated 5 August 2026, whether (a) climate change and (b) equality, diversity and inclusion metrics will no longer be applied to social value requirements in (i) public body and (ii) central government procurement; and whether the changes will be applied uniformly to the NHS.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

PPN026 focuses on good jobs, skills and helping those that face barriers to employment, including those Not in Education, Employment or Training and those with a long term health condition or disability. Environmental standards and net zero commitments remain in contract specifications and technical requirements as appropriate.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the MHCLG statistics work programme, 27 August 2026, what the household level council tax data collected by the Office for National Statistics is that MHCLG does not collect.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 11th September is attached.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 17 July 2026, to Question 18049, on Government Departments: Greater Manchester, for what reason Heron House, Lincoln Square was not included in that list.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Information relating to this specific property was withheld on the grounds of national security.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, further to the answer of 20 July 2026, to Question HL1330, on Taxation: Self-assessment, whether the outgoing Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Chancellor plan to publish their tax returns on gov.uk.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 01 September 2026, Official Report, PQ HL2136.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to her Department's publication entitled The Seventh National Action Plan for Open Government (NAP7): Analysis of initial evidence gathering, updated on 4 August 2026, for what reason her Department did not seek co-creation immediately for the proposals on Freedom of Information Act improvements.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

In addition to ideas on the Freedom of Information Act, the call for evidence received a range of ideas on the broader theme of ‘access to information and digital governance’, with many interlocking policy remits. A broad range of government teams hold the relevant policy responsibilities, many with active workstreams. As a result, it was assessed that further discussion was needed on the potential for developing any commitments as part of NAP7, as outlined in ANNEX I: Detailed Theme Assessment Tables of the analysis document.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 17 July 2026 to Question 17753 on Prime Minister: Facilities Agreements, whether information on trade union facility time within Downing Street is held by the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, including the Downing Street HR arm.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Information on facility time is recorded by line managers.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 4 September 2026, to Question 13827, on Cabinet Office: Marketing, and with reference to the Cabinet Office press release, Government-branded merchandise and away days banned, 6 April 2025, for what reason (a) branded t-shirts were purchased by the Government People Group and (b) t-shirts were purchased for a diversity network; and what the branding was on each of the t-shirts.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The purchase of t-shirts supports the Civil Service’s longstanding attendance at Pride events and are reused as much as possible before being replaced. All spending decisions must represent value for the taxpayer, and we are fully focused on ensuring every pound spent delivers for the public.

The shirts have the phrase ‘Civil Service Pride’ on the front, and the phrase ‘Civil Service LGBT+ Network’ and the a:gender logo (the cross-government support network) on the back.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the publication, Expenditure Over £25,000 - July 2026 (Cabinet Office Core), 27 August 2026, what was the event, work activity and topic relating to the transaction, Communications External Events, One Two Agency Limited, Ref: SINV-000032795, for £56,638.58.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The transaction of £56,638.58 to One Two Agency Limited (reference SINV-000032795) relates to the Government Commercial Agency’s participation in the Local Government Association (LGA) Annual Conference.

The expenditure covered the design, construction, and technical provision for the exhibition stand. Participation aimed to support direct engagement and build strategic relationships with local government stakeholders, with a specific focus on devolution priorities.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Prime Minister plans to facilitate and increase scrutiny of the Office of the Prime Minister by the press.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Scrutiny of government decision-making is an important part of the democratic process. The media hold the Office of the Prime Minister to account through regular Ministerial broadcast engagements and press conferences, and lobby briefings.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Provision of Future Civil Service contract awarded to GuideHouse Europe Limited of 2 July 2026, reference CCCC26A06, if she will set out the (a) full terms of reference and project specification for the work and (b) project specifications for the subcontractors of Korn Ferry, Newton Consultting and Eden McCallum; and for what reason this was awarded via a direct purchase rather than following an open competition.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Future Civil Service Programme has an ambitious agenda to transform the civil service, to build capability, improve talent management and ensure staff have the skills and tools they need to drive government priorities in every postcode of the UK. The Contract was awarded on 2 July 2026 to Guidehouse Europe Limited to support the aims of the Programme.

Responsibility for selecting, deploying, and managing subcontractors rests with the lead supplier, which remains accountable for delivering the contract requirements.

All contracts are awarded in line with relevant guidance. The contract was awarded via a further competition through the Government Commercial Agency’s Commercial Agreement:Management Consultancy Framework 4 (MCF4) RM6309 Lot 2: Strategy & Policy.

The tender participants can be viewed here:

https://www.gca.gov.uk/agreements/RM6309:2/lot-suppliers

The contract is governed by the RM6309 Core Terms of the Commercial Agreement which can be found in the documents section of the commercial agreement page here: https://www.gca.gov.uk/agreements/RM6309

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Cabinet Office Propriety and Ethics Team has undertaken due diligence in relation to the Ministerial appointment of the new First Secretary of State.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

There is an established process in place for the appointment of ministers.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether she was involved in the Office for the Prime Minister and Cabinet's due diligence of Ministers appointed in July 2026.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

There is an established process in place for the appointment of ministers.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what was the total cost of National Insurance to Civil Service employers in each year from 2023-24.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Cabinet Office does not hold actual payroll outturn employer National Insurance (NI) contributions costs for all Civil Service departments and organisations.

However, departments are required to publish payroll outturn information including employer NI contributions each month as part of Monthly Workforce Management Information (MWMI) transparency reporting on gov.uk. MWMI data for Cabinet Office from March 2011 to July 2026 can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/payroll-costs-and-non-consolidated-pay-data-cabinet-office

In addition, the Cabinet Office does produce estimates for the snapshot Civil Service total paybill that includes estimated employer NI costs. These estimated NI costs are provided in table 1 below:

Table 1: Estimated nominal ‘snapshot’ employer National Insurance costs for the civil service, 2024 to 2026

Source: Internal Analysis based on data from the Annual Civil Service Employment Survey (ACSES), Cabinet Office

Notes:

Employer NI costs are estimated using civil servant salary, allowance and NCPRP data from ACSES as at ‘snapshot’ date of 31st March in each year, and have been adjusted for missing values. They have not been adjusted for inflation (i.e. they are nominal values).

Employer National Insurance rates increased from 13.8% to 15% on the 6th April 2025. The new rate has been used to estimate Civil Service employer national insurance for 2025 and 2026.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the answer of 3 February 2026, to Question 109155, on Cabinet Office: Remote Working, which office attendance data gathering method does Cabinet Office use to monitor and ascertain office attendance in (a) 70 Whitehall and (b) Glasgow.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Cabinet Office does not centrally collect or hold data on average workplace attendance. The monitoring of office attendance remains the responsibility of individuals, line managers and business units. Line Managers are expected to be aware of, and ensure compliance with, the minimum 60% expectation for their direct reports.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the average attendance figure was as a percentage of FTE in each of ONS's offices in August 2026; and what expected office attendance is in each office.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Parliamentary Question of 28 August is attached.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 29 June 2026 to Question 11140 on Government: Procurement, if she will list the 13 defined Social Value measures; and what is meant by introduction of charter/manual of me to the Home Office.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The 13 defined Social Value Measures in the User Services for the Emergency Services Network (ESN) are detailed below:

1. Environmental Champion
2. Ratify baseline measures to build sustainability goals – ESN Programme
3. Environmental Sustainability Workshop and develop sustainability goals
4. Run annual Sustainability Awareness Assessment – ESN Programme
5. Run annual Sustainability Awareness Assessment – UO focused
6. Establish Environmental Community Group (ECG)
7. Establish sustainability space on Supplier’s ESN community portal
8. Offer access to sustainability space on Supplier’s ESN community portal – to US representatives
9. Make available Sustainability Awareness Training – including ‘Green IT’ to ESN Programme Teams
10. Make available Sustainability Awareness Training – including ‘Green IT’ to UOs’ ESN Technical Teams
11. Fighting Climate Change Volunteering – Supplier volunteering
12. Fighting Climate Change Volunteering – Supplier volunteering with UOs
13. Enactus – Local Community based Social Impact Programme – ESN Programme and UOs.

The above measures are assessed either on a binary basis (achieved/not achieved) or against defined quantitative targets, such as the delivery of specified activity volumes or hours within a stated period.

This charter ("Manual of Me") was implemented to drive Social Value through the Home Office's supply chain on the METIS Contract.

It was specifically designed to strengthen collaboration and foster a more inclusive and supportive partnership approach to deliver and track the shared goals and values throughout the life of the contract that were established as critical during the procurement and evaluation process

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what guidance the National Archives has given to Departments on the retention of responses to consultations and calls for evidence.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Secretary of State's Code of Practice on the Management of Records issued under section 46 the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Code) provides general guidance to departments and wider public authorities on the keeping, management and destruction of records. The Keeper of Public Records supervises and guides departments in their selection of public records for permanent preservation under section 3(2) of the Public Records Act 1958, issuing a high-level records collection policy. Individual departments make decisions on how long to retain their records in line with this guidance. There is no guidance in the Code or otherwise issued by The National Archives relating specifically to consultations or calls for evidence.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if she will list the members of the Special Adviser People Board.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The People Board is a group of senior officials, chaired by a Director General acting under delegated authority from the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister’s special adviser leadership team is also represented, as has been the case under successive administrations.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the comments by the Minister of 2 September 2026, Official Report, Column 342, on the Representation of the People Bill, what is the Government’s policy on (a) electoral system reform and (b) proportional representation in (i) local elections and (ii) UK Parliamentary elections.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government's immediate priority is to deliver the electoral reforms already before Parliament. The Prime Minister remains committed to electoral reform as a way of supporting a politics that works for all people in all places and is open to different ways of having a debate about how we can better include everyone’s vote and voice.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the updating of the Cabinet Manual will be minimalist.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Cabinet Manual update will ensure that it reflects the main laws, conventions and rules that affect the operation and procedures of the Government. This will include reflecting changes in legislation and practice since 2011. The Government will seek feedback from the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee in the House of Commons and the Constitution Committee in the House of Lords on draft text.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps her Department is taking to help identify the person who impersonated President Trump's Chief of Staff in messages to the Prime Minister; and what assessment she has made of the potential merits of preventing the use of insecure Whatsapp channels by the Prime Minister.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Government does not regularly comment on matters of national security.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the council tax for the Chancellor’s official residence in Downing Street is being paid for by (a) the Cabinet Office, (b) HM Treasury and (c) the Government Property Agency.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)

The Chancellor pays full council tax on the flat above 10 Downing Street as his primary residence.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if the Prime Minister will publish the full text of the electronic message exchanges between the Prime Minister and the hoaxer pretending to be the Chief of Staff to President Trump.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Government does not regularly comment on matters of national security.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, who provided the telephone number to the Prime Minister for the hoax call to the supposed Chief of Staff to President Trump.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Government does not regularly comment on matters of national security.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he pays council tax on his Downing Street residence at 100% of the Band H rate.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)

The Chancellor pays full council tax on the flat above 10 Downing Street as his primary residence.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 29 May 2026 to Question 421 on Independent Football Regulator, for what reason the Prime Minister’s Appointment Unit was consulted on the appointment; and whether No10 special advisers were consulted.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

There is an established process whereby the No10 Appointments Unit and No10 Special Advisers are consulted on appointments that are on the published PM interest list. The previous Prime Minister was not consulted on these appointments and had previously recused himself from decisions relating to the Football Governance Act.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 29 May 2026, to Question 421, on Independent Football Regulator, whether No10 special advisers were consulted on the appointment.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

There is an established process whereby the No10 Appointments Unit and No10 Special Advisers are consulted on appointments that are on the published PM interest list. The previous Prime Minister was not consulted on these appointments and had previously recused himself from decisions relating to the Football Governance Act.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the First Secretary of State is the most senior Minister in Government after the Prime Minister.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The list of the Cabinet on GOV.UK provides the current order of precedence of Cabinet ministers.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the First Secretary of State is the designated Minister to deputise for the Prime Minister.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The list of the Cabinet on GOV.UK provides the current order of precedence of Cabinet ministers.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason the acting Director General of the Propriety and Constitution Group has been temporarily promoted for more than six months.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The temporary cover for the Director General, Propriety and Constitution Group has gone beyond the six-month period for operational reasons.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 15 July 2026 to Question 8154 on Lord Mandelson, whether substantive government business was discussed at the meeting and whether there were actions from the meeting which were reported back to the Chancellor’s Private Office.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)

In line with usual practice, any government business raised in meetings is fed back to the department.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether (a) hotels and (b) train travel and (c) subsistence payments for No10 North staff who commute from London and the South East will be funded by the Government.

Answered by Sally Jameson - Parliamentary Secretary and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Cabinet Office Travel and Expenses policy covers civil service staff, special advisors and non-executive board and committee members in the Cabinet Office. The cost of hotels, train travel and subsistence will be funded by the Cabinet Office for official business travel. Ordinary commuting costs are not covered.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the First Secretary of State would deputise for the Prime Minister if he was (a) incapacitated and (b) otherwise unable to undertake his Ministerial functions; and which the most senior Minister in Government is other than the Prime Minister.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The list of the Cabinet on GOV.UK provides the current order of precedence of Cabinet ministers.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the answer of 4 June 2026 to Question 4161 on Government departments: marketing, how much has been spent on branded goods and merchandise by his Department since the Government Chief Commercial Officer letter was sent; on what items; and at what cost.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

DWP Policy states that money shouldn’t be spent on non-essential branded merchandise. The distribution of branded merchandise is to be restricted to instances where it is truly necessary; for example, where expenditure on merchandise is necessary for operational purposes.

No expenditure occurs in our central records for the core department.

This table outlines responses for DWP’s Arm’s Length Bodies:

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the answer of 22 July 2026, to Question 18828, on Gambling Commission: Staff, whether Gambling Commission staff are required to follow the principles of the Civil Service Code.

Answered by Vicky Foxcroft - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

Gambling Commission employees are Public Servants and therefore are not bound by the Civil Service Code. The Gambling Commission has its own Employee Code of Conduct which reflects public service principles.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what is the Gambling Commission Board's expected timetable recruiting a chief executive.

Answered by Vicky Foxcroft - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Gambling Commission hope to have completed the recruitment process for a new Chief Executive by the end of the calendar year.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the answer to 22 July 2026, to Question 18829, on National Gallery, if she will ask the National Gallery to provide the business case for the £250,000 of expenditure on a Citizen's Assembly, and place the documentation in the Library.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The National Gallery is operationally independent of the government and decisions about public engagement, including those relating to the NG Citizens programme, are taken by its trustees.

Participants are paid for their time at a rate of £15 per hour and are reimbursed for relevant expenses.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the answer to 22 July 2026, to Question 18829, on National Gallery, how much members of the National Gallery Citizens’ Assembly are paid.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The National Gallery is operationally independent of the government and decisions about public engagement, including those relating to the NG Citizens programme, are taken by its trustees.

Participants are paid for their time at a rate of £15 per hour and are reimbursed for relevant expenses.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether changes have been made to the Prime Minister’s Direct Ministerial Appointments since the change of Prime Minister.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Since the change of Prime Minister, three new DMAs have been appointed. Details have been published on gov.uk and on the DMA portal. The former Prime Minister’s Cost of Living Champion, the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Women and Girls, and the Prime Minister’s Chief Economic Adviser have left their roles.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Baroness Shafik is Chief Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Since the change of Prime Minister, three new DMAs have been appointed. Details have been published on gov.uk and on the DMA portal. The former Prime Minister’s Cost of Living Champion, the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Women and Girls, and the Prime Minister’s Chief Economic Adviser have left their roles.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the No10 press release, Appointment of Alex Lloyd Hunter as the Advisor on Digital Communications Processes & Strategy, what the terms of reference are of the review of the No10 Digital Operation; what the timetable is; whether a report will be published; and whether the review engages the work of the (a) New Media Unit and (b) Government Media Unit.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The DMA portal has been updated with the information that was published on gov.uk about the appointments of the Expert Adviser on Structure and Process and the Adviser on Digital Communication Process and Strategy.

Gautam Rangarajan will advise on internal No.10 structures and processes and was selected in line with the published DMA guidance.

Information about the appointment of Alex Lloyd Hunter and his role are available on gov.uk and the DMA portal. This is an internal review, and the relevant internal stakeholders will be engaged as appropriate.

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