Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the dependency of government departments and agencies on IT systems provided by (a) Microsoft and (b) Google; and whether the Government is contracted to those suppliers.

Answered by Chris Ward

IT procurement is devolved to individual departments, meaning the Government does not hold a single, aggregated dependency assessment. However, to mitigate supply chain risks and avoid single-supplier dependence, we actively work to diversify our technology estate.

The Government Commercial Agency (GCA) manages the Strategic Partnership Arrangement 2024 (SPA24) with Microsoft. This is a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to secure preferential pricing for public bodies, rather than a central contract committing to a specific spend. Google Cloud is being integrated into the government technology landscape as part of our strategy to enhance service resilience and reduce reliance on a single provider.

Wider initiatives are outlined in the Roadmap for Modern Digital Government: https://roadmap-for-modern-digital-government.campaign.gov.uk/.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department has taken to establish whether Lord Mandelson holds official information owned by the Crown which has not been copied or transferred to the official record.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

I refer the Hon Member to the Government’s statement and release of information on 1st June, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The documents published in the first and second tranches contain the entirety of the documents the Government has available for disclosure, except those being withheld at the request of the Metropolitan police.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2026, to Question 8058, on UK Statistics Authority: Remote Working, what discussions he has had with the UK Statistics Authority on the attendance rate in its offices on (a) Darlington and (b) Edinburgh.

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

Departments manage their own arrangements for monitoring workforce attendance.

Central data on Civil Service Headquarters (HQ) occupancy is collected and published quarterly on GOV.UK for all HQ buildings of Whitehall Departments, Office for Scotland, Office for Wales and Northern Ireland Office. This data enables the Cabinet Office to gain a general understanding of each department’s position to ensure efficient and effective use of the estate.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether (a) Jonathan Powell and (b) Philip Barton made representations to the Prime Minister about Lord Mandelson’s appointment.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

I refer the Hon Member to the Government’s statement and release of information on 1st June, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The documents published in the first and second tranches contain the entirety of the documents the Government has available for disclosure, except those being withheld at the request of the Metropolitan police.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether (a) Cabinet Office Legal Advisers and (b) the National Security Adviser had a role in redaction of the material to be released in response to the Humble Address of 4 February 2026.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

I refer the Hon Member to the Government’s statement and release of information on 1st June, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government’s methodology in complying with the Humble Address was set out in the Volume II publication.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 29 April 2026, to Question 120353, whether he plans to offer (a) the Rt Hon Member for Ashton-under-Lyne and (b) the Rt Hon Member for Ilford North the opportunity to make a donation to the Prime Minister's Library.

Answered by Chris Ward

I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 03 June 2026, Official Report, PQ 3790

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2026 to Question 3790 on 10 Downing Street: Libraries, whether the offer to donate a book is open to Ministers who have recently resigned.

Answered by Chris Ward

I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 03 June 2026, Official Report, PQ 3790.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many headcount staff in the Department, including Downing Street, are (a) members of the Government Communication Network and (b) embedded communicators but not counted as members of the Government Communication Network.

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

All embedded communicators are members of the Government Communication Service.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the children of trade union officials can participate in the Civil Service summer internship scheme.

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

An applicant’s socio-economic background is determined by their responses to questions designed by the ONS. For questions regarding parental occupation, this is at the age 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 16 June 2026 to Question 6098 on Senior Civil Servants: Performance Appraisal, what (a) Cabinet Office and (b) Civil Service guidance has been produced on performance development plans.

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

The Senior Civil Servant Performance Management Framework and Managing Poor Performance: policy procedures for the Senior Civil Service, published on gov.uk set expectations for the performance management arrangements for the SCS across the Civil Service, including guidance on performance development plans.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether representatives of (a) his Department and (b) Downing Street have briefed the Financial Times on reforming the Freedom of Information Act.

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

It would not be appropriate to comment on speculation, though I would note that this statement neither confirms nor denies the legitimacy of the source comment quoted by the Financial Times. The government has strengthened many transparency and disclosure standards — providing openness to the public while applying clear safeguards where sensitive or security-related information is concerned.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the written statement of 17 June 2026, HCWS120, on Update of Insourcing, what the baseline level of outsourcing across departments is; and what estimate he has made of changes to administrative and running costs from increased insourcing.

Answered by Chris Ward

This Labour Government is committed to delivering the biggest wave of insourcing of public services in a generation, ending outsourcing by default.

On 17 June, the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, the Chancellor and I introduced a new Public Interest Test. From April 2027, departments will assess whether a service can be better delivered in-house before any outsourcing decision is made. This will apply to service contracts of £1 million and above with some limited exceptions for specific types of contracts. Departments will also publish insourcing strategies setting out their medium term plans to deliver services in-house.

It is for contracting authorities to assess the value for money case for insourcing specific services on a case by case basis.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 15 June 2026, to Question 4156, on Proof of Identity: Digital Technology, what is the monetary value of the payment to attend to recognise time given up.

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

I refer the Hon Member to the response given to question 4156 on 02 June 2026.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the European Commission's proposals to increase the Erasmus+ budget for 2028-2034 on the size of the United Kingdom's contribution to the Erasmus+ budget from 2028.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

We have successfully negotiated fair terms for the UK’s association to Erasmus+ in 2027 - the final year of the EU’s 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework. Any participation in Erasmus+ into the next Multiannual Financial Framework will need to be agreed in the future and be based on a fair and balanced contribution. Going forward, our experience of associating in 2027 will inform any future participation in Erasmus+ under the next Multiannual Financial Framework.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Ministry of Justice, Public appointments diversity and outreach strategy 2026, published 11 June 2026, whether the Cabinet Office intends to set a percentage target on demonstrable diversity on sift and interview panels, and adopt similar policies on (a) socio-economic background and (b) region.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

The government is committed to ensuring that public appointments are more representative of our nations and regions, including socio-economic background.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 29 May 2026, to Question 2081, on Prime Minister: Public Expenditure, how much was spent on each of the individual suppliers listed and which items were purchased.

Answered by Chris Ward

Total expenditure from the Prime Minister’s allowance on their official residence is disclosed in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's publication entitled Government Procurement Card spend over £500 - April 2026 (Cabinet Office Core), published on 28 May 2026, what was the conference or event relating to the (a) two payments to Political Engagement Ltd for £720 and (b) payment to Influencer 360 for £2,106.

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

The two payments to Political Engagement Ltd for £720 was for a stand at Civil Service Live 2026 in London and Edinburgh. According to Companies House, Political Engagement Ltd is a subsidiary of Political Holdings Ltd, owned by Lord Ashcroft.

The payment for Influencer 360 related to the cost of three staff members attending the “PRWeek and Campaign Influencer 360” 2026 conference.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on what date (a) the Cabinet Office and (b) 10 Downing Street disapplied the automatic deletion policy on emails, in light of the Humble Address of 4 February 2026.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

I refer the Hon Member to the Government’s statement and release of information on 1st June, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The methodological note included in this publication provides a detailed overview of the information gathering process.

The documents published in the first and second tranches contain the entirety of the documents the Government has available for disclosure, except those being withheld at the request of the Metropolitan police.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the answer of 9 February 2026, to Question 110416, on Government Departments: Communication, for what reason the decision was made to adopt "UK Government" as the primary identity for all public-facing communications.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

There are no plans to discontinue the use of “HM Government”.

Communications teams are advised to use "UK Government" rather than departmental names and logos for announcements, to provide clarity to the public. This does not affect the use of "His Majesty's Government", which continues on relevant official communications and records.

"UK Government" has long been the term used for the government in public-facing communications. All governments have regularly reviewed and updated government branding guidance to ensure that communications with the public are clear.

This guidance was developed in consultation with relevant stakeholders and in accordance with standard protocols in Summer 2025.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what role did the UK National Security Advisor have in the (a) consideration, (b) selection and (c) appointment of Peter Mandelson as UK Ambassador to the United States.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

I refer the Hon Member to the Government’s statement and release of information on 1st June, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The documents published in the first and second tranches contain the entirety of the documents the Government has available for disclosure, except those being withheld at the request of the Metropolitan Police.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much has been spent on the new government brand.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

Any costs associated with routine updates to branding guidance are covered by existing staff costs.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 12 June 2026, to Question 7163, on Proof of Identity: Digital Technology, if he will place in the Library a copies of the presentations and handouts given to the members of the People's Panel on Digital ID at the two overnight deliberative workshops in Birmingham in May and June 2026.

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

The Government will publish the outcome of the People’s Panel on Digital ID in due course. This will include a report detailing the People’s Panel process, a summary of the group’s discussions and their concluding recommendations.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the answer of 19 January 2026, to Question 104195, on Government Communication Service: Staff, if he will breakdown the data by individual public body, including individual Arms Length Bodies, by headcount staff.

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

There are no plans to publish this information. Providing a further breakdown by individual public bodies could lead to the identification of individuals in smaller teams, contrary to Data Protection policy.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 16 April 2026 to Question 126612 on China: Clean Energy, how many (a) Memorandums of Understanding and (b) non-legally binding agreements have been agreed between the (i) the Cabinet Office and (ii) its agencies, and with the People’s Republic of China since 4 July 2024.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

There is no consolidated list on the number of Memorandums of Understanding and other non-legally binding instruments across Cabinet Office. We do not routinely publish or collate this information.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to Volumes 1 and 2 of the Government response to the Humble Address on Lord Mandelson, whether people mentioned in the Government return to the Humble Address were consulted on any (a) exclusions and (b) redactions in the material that was released prior to publication; and whether there was a Maxwellisation process.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

I refer the Hon Member to the Government’s statement and release of information on 1st June, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The documents published in the first and second tranches contain the entirety of the documents the Government has available for disclosure, except those being withheld at the request of the Metropolitan police. The methodological note included in this publication provides a detailed overview of the information gathering and redactions process.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to Volume 1 of the Government response to the Humble Address on Lord Mandelson, who was interviewed by the General Counsel to the Prime Minister in his fact-finding exercise in the context of the return to the Humble Address; and how many people were interviewed.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

I refer the Hon Member to the Government’s statement and release of information on 1st June, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The documents published in the first and second tranches contain the entirety of the documents the Government has available for disclosure, except those being withheld at the request of the Metropolitan police.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to Volumes 1 and 2 of the Government response to the Humble Address on Lord Mandelson, whether Lord Mandelson used a non-government email address for government business while he was Ambassador to the United States.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

I refer the Hon Member to the Government’s statement and release of information on 1st June, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The documents published in the first and second tranches contain the entirety of the documents the Government has available for disclosure, except those being withheld at the request of the Metropolitan police.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to Volumes 1 and 2 of the Government response to the Humble Address on Lord Mandelson, what the terms of reference were of the fact-finding exercise of the General Counsel to the Prime Minister in the context of the return to the Humble Address; and whether there was a report of that exercise.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

I refer the Hon Member to the Government’s statement and release of information on 1st June, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The documents published in the first and second tranches contain the entirety of the documents the Government has available for disclosure, except those being withheld at the request of the Metropolitan police.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to Volumes 1 and 2 of the Government response to the Humble Address on Lord Mandelson, whether papers relating to Global Counsel were in scope of the response to the Humble Address of 4 February 2026.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

I refer the Hon Member to the Government’s statement and release of information on 1st June, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The documents published in the first and second tranches contain the entirety of the documents the Government has available for disclosure, except those being withheld at the request of the Metropolitan police.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, who first suggested to the Prime Minister that Peter Mandelson should be appointed as Ambassador to the United States.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

I refer the Hon Member to the Government’s statement and release of information on 1st June, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The documents published in the first and second tranches contain the entirety of the documents the Government has available for disclosure, except those being withheld at the request of the Metropolitan police.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government response to the Humble Address on Lord Mandelson included information that had been held by civil servants who had left Crown Service.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

I refer the Hon Member to the Government’s statement and release of information on 1st June, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The documents published in the first and second tranches contain the entirety of the documents the Government has available for disclosure, except those being withheld at the request of the Metropolitan police. The methodological note included in this publication provides a detailed overview of the information gathering and redactions process.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2026 to Question 4183 on Cabinet Office: counselling, what is the annual cost and the provider of the dedicated sessions for individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds.

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

The Medigold Health Group provides this counselling service as part of the Cabinet Office Employee Assistance Programme. The annual cost is confidential as it relates to a current commercial contract.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will list the internship schemes in operation (a) across the Civil Service, and (b) across departments and agencies, according to information held by the Civil Service People Group.

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

Individual departments are responsible for recruitment decisions and selecting the best methods to meet their objectives, including the use of internships. The Cabinet Office runs the Fast Stream Summer Internship Programme offering placements across government. The Cabinet Office does not hold a list of all internship programmes centrally and has no plans to collect this data.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate his Department has made of the yearly cost of trade union facility time under the 2026 Facility Time Framework to his Department.

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

The Cabinet Office has not formally estimated the yearly cost of facility time under the 2026 Facility Time Framework to the Cabinet Office.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to Volumes 1 and 2 of the Government response to the Humble Address on Lord Mandelson, what role the Cabinet Secretary played in the appointment of Lord Mandelson as Ambassador to the United States.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

I refer the Hon Member to the Government’s statement and release of information on 1st June, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The documents published in the first and second tranches contain the entirety of the documents the Government has available for disclosure, except those being withheld at the request of the Metropolitan police. The methodological note included in this publication provides a detailed overview of the information gathering process.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Cabinet Office Freedom of Information Act response of 10 April 2026 FOI reference: FOI2026/04972, if he will make it his policy to issue a Ministerial Correction to the Answer of 20 February to Question 112174 on Government: Policy.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

The answer to Question 112174 is correct.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to publish Lord Mandelson's completed conflicts of interest form and declarations in a future volume of the Humble Address return.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

I refer the Hon Member to the Government’s statement and release of information on 1st June, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The documents published in the first and second tranches contain the entirety of the documents the Government has available for disclosure, except those being withheld at the request of the Metropolitan police.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the answer of 2 June 2026, to Question 1175, on Department for Education: Social Media, how many individual social media influencers were paid in each of those two years.

Answered by Olivia Bailey

In the 2025/26 financial year, the department paid 57 individual social media influencers and content creators.

These influencers and content creators were engaged across the department’s campaigns including Skills for Life, Early Years Careers (Do Something Big), Childcare Choices, Best Start in Life, Get Into Teaching and Train others in Further Education.

As set out in the answer to Question 1175, the costs attributed to influencer activity may include production, agency and paid media costs, depending on how each campaign was procured and delivered. The figures provided should therefore not be interpreted as representing influencer fees alone.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what requirements do departments have to list on the Direct Ministerial Appointments portal when a Direct Ministerial Appointment has been seconded by an external organisation, and what steps are taken to avoid conflicts of interest with the seconded organisation.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

The published Guidance on Making Direct Ministerial Appointments sets out rigorous processes for identifying and managing potential conflicts of interest of prospective appointees. Direct Ministerial Appointments are bound by the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies, which requires appointees to comply with the rules of the appointing body on handling conflicts of interests, which typically require the public declaration of potential conflicts, usually in the body’s register of interests. The detailed guidance for doing so is published on Gov.uk.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what guidance his Department has issued to departments on the disclosure of the names of organisations who are respondents to public consultations and calls for evidence.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

The Cabinet Office published consultation principles, which provide guidance to government departments on conducting consultations. It is for individual departments to decide how to apply the principles to their consultations.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 23 June 2026, to Question 8158, on Lord Mandelson and Morgan McSweeney, on what date Morgan McSweeney provided his electronic messages to the Cabinet Office.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

I refer the Hon Member to the Government’s statement and release of information on 1st June, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government’s methodology in complying with the Humble Address was set out in the Volume II publication.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the vetting and due diligence exercise for the appointment of Lord Mandelson as Ambassador to the United States considered (a) the Financial Times report entitled Links between Peter Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein detailed in JPMorgan report, published on 21 June 2023 and (b) the associated material on the Epstein-Mandelson relationship detailed in JP Morgan's Project Jeep released by the US courts, reference: Government of the United States Virgin Islands v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (1:22-cv-10904), District Court, S.D. New York, published on 20 June 2023, Exhibit 4.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

It is long-standing practice that we do not comment on confidential details in individual vetting cases. We cannot publicly discuss the details of individual vetting cases, as doing so would compromise the trust, confidentiality and candour required for the national security vetting (NSV) process to retain its effectiveness as a safeguard. NSV, which is one of a suite of personnel security mechanisms, relies on individuals feeling comfortable sharing sensitive, private information with UKSV.

Regarding due diligence, I refer the Hon Member to the Government’s statement and release of information on 11 March and 1 June, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Oliver Robbins was given (a) a formal or (b) an informal steer from Downing Street (i) civil servants or (ii) special advisers to take steps to facilitate Lord Mandelson’s appointment as Ambassador.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

I refer the Hon Member to the Government’s statement and release of information on 1st June, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The documents published in the first and second tranches contain the entirety of the documents the Government has available for disclosure, except those being withheld at the request of the Metropolitan police.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his statement on Lord Mandelson: Response to Humble Address Motion of 11 March 2026, Official Report, Column 360, which document had a limited redaction.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

I refer the Hon member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March. As set out in the content page of the 11 March publication, the first document was referred to the Intelligence and Security Committee for review, resulting in the agreement and application of specific, limited redactions.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Cabinet Secretary made representations to the Prime Minister on the appointment of Lord Mandelson as Ambassador to the United States.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

I refer the Hon Member to the Government’s statement and release of information on 1st June, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The documents published in the first and second tranches contain the entirety of the documents the Government has available for disclosure, except those being withheld at the request of the Metropolitan police.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has had discussions with Global Counsel on responding to the Humble Address on Lord Mandelson.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

I refer the Hon Member to the Government’s statement and release of information on 1st June, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The documents published in the first and second tranches contain the entirety of the documents the Government has available for disclosure, except those being withheld at the request of the Metropolitan police.

All government departments, ministers and relevant individuals were instructed to retain and provide to the Cabinet Office all information they hold that fell in scope of the Humble Address motion.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to review his policy on forming a customs union with the EU for certain products.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

This government remains committed to reducing barriers to trade and cutting red-tape with our largest trading partner, and this is why we’re negotiating a food and drink deal and linking our emissions trading systems. However, the government’s red lines are clear: there will be no return to the Single Market or the Customs Union.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2026, to Question 3350, on Public Appointments, from which organisation has the Prime Minister’s Expert Adviser on Energy and Net Zero been seconded; what is the length of the secondment; which organisation is paying their salary and pension; and whether there is any reimbursement on either side for the salary and pension costs.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

I refer the Hon Member to the Direct Ministerial Appointments portal, available on GOV.UK.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information his Department holds on phone calls to Lord Mandelson’s phones which were connected through No10 switch.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

I refer the Hon Member to the Government’s statement and release of information on 1st June, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The documents published in the first and second tranches contain the entirety of the documents the Government has available for disclosure, except those being withheld at the request of the Metropolitan police.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the technical arrangements for backing up messages on official No10 iphones include backing up officially-installed Whatsapp.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 13 April 2026, Official Report, PQ 123637.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 9 June 2026 to Question 4176 on Monarchy: information, whether he has considered initiating legal action to obtain official information held by the Crown retained by Lord Mandelson and not disclosed for the purposes of the Government response to the Humble Address.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

I refer the Hon Member to the Government’s statement and release of information on 1st June, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The documents published in the first and second tranches contain the entirety of the documents the Government has available for disclosure, except those being withheld at the request of the Metropolitan police.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists has powers to fine individuals for breaches of the registration requirements if their consultant lobbying firm has subsequently become insolvent.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

The Registrar may levy fines against individuals under the civil sanctions regime of the 2014 Lobbying Act regardless of the solvency status of the associated consultant lobbying company.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many headcount staff in her Department are (a) members of the Government Communication Network and (b) are embedded communicators but are not counted as members of the Government Communication Network.

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

(a) There are 145 individuals working in the Communications Directorate, as reported in the Home Office Annual Accounts 2024/25. Home Office Annual Report and Accounts 2024 to 2025

All 145 individuals are members of the Government Communications Service (GCS).

(b) The Communications Directorate is the professional centre for communications in the department. The Directorate does not embed communications professionals in other parts of the department.

There are individuals in other parts of the organisation who may, as part of their responsibilities, also deliver internal comms & engagement. There is no requirement for these individuals to be members of the Government Communications Service (GCS).

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much her Department has spent on branded goods and merchandise since the Government Chief Commercial Officer letter was sent.

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

Branded items are no longer available to purchase; and the Home Office Commercial team have introduced controls to prevent purchasing these items and reject any requests. We do not hold spend information for this category of spend.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the answer of 23 April 2026, to Question HL16207, whether his Department played a role in highlighting the scheme to the wider NHS.

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

On behalf of the Department, NHS England provided information to the National Health Service on the scheme making portraits of King Charles available to them through:

• inclusion in the monthly Estates and Facilities Bulletin;

• inclusion in the NHS Estates Team Collaboration Hub;

• circulation through the regional offices to their local NHS organisations and;

• inclusion on social media.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 29 May 2025, to Question 2053, on Treaties: Parliamentary Scrutiny, for what policy reason does the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office not keep a central list of such instruments.

Answered by Seema Malhotra

The Hon Member's proposal has been rejected by successive governments, due primarily to the impracticality of the exercise, and the bureaucratic burden it would create.

I refer the Hon Member in particular to the then government's response to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, published on 18 April 2024, and to the current government's response to the House of Lords International Agreements Committee, published on 3 December 2025.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department made of the potential impact of Lord Mandelson's shareholdings in Global Counsel on his suitability to be appointed as UK Ambassador to the United States prior to that appointment being made.

Answered by Seema Malhotra

The Government's policy of not commenting on individual personnel matters remains unchanged, but where the Humble Address process required the disclosure of relevant documentation, we have met those requirements. I refer the Hon. Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 1 June. The documents published in the first and second tranches contain the entirety of the documents the Government has available for disclosure, except those being withheld at the request of the Metropolitan Police.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Lord Mandelson (a) completed and (b) passed his STRAP clearance process when Ambassador.

Answered by Seema Malhotra

The Government's policy of not commenting on individual personnel matters remains unchanged, but where the Humble Address process required the disclosure of relevant documentation, we have met those requirements. I refer the Hon. Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 1 June. The documents published in the first and second tranches contain the entirety of the documents the Government has available for disclosure, except those being withheld at the request of the Metropolitan Police.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2026 to Question 3351 on Lord Mandelson, whether Lord Mandelson as Ambassador provided advice in relation to the (a) decision of the Government not to publish the China Audit and (b) the presentation of the conclusions of the China Audit.

Answered by Seema Malhotra

The Government's policy of not commenting on individual personnel matters remains unchanged, but where the Humble Address process required the disclosure of relevant documentation, we have met those requirements. I refer the Hon. Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 1 June. The documents published in the first and second tranches contain the entirety of the documents the Government has available for disclosure, except those being withheld at the request of the Metropolitan Police.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Lord Mandelson was investigated for misconduct under the Civil Servant Code or Diplomatic Service Code prior to his dismissal.

Answered by Seema Malhotra

The Government's policy of not commenting on individual personnel matters remains unchanged, but where the Humble Address process required the disclosure of relevant documentation, we have met those requirements. I refer the Hon. Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 1 June. The documents published in the first and second tranches contain the entirety of the documents the Government has available for disclosure, except those being withheld at the request of the Metropolitan Police.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the specific event was for each of the individual room hires since 4 April 2025 other than Civil Service Live and the Infected Blood Inquiry.

Answered by Chris Ward

I am unable to provide this information as the details are not held centrally and complying with this request would incur a disproportionate cost to the Cabinet Office.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when she last attended the UK Soft Power Council.

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

Details of the dates and attendees at meetings of the UK Soft Power Council are routinely published on the council's webpage at GOV.UK.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the answer of 20 March 2026, to Question 119894, on Gambling Commission: Managers, if he will make it his policy to ask the Civil Service Commission to review the business appointment provisions of (a) the Gambling Commission and (b) other public sector regulators.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

The Government currently has no plans to ask the Civil Service Commission to do so.

The independent Civil Service Commission regulates recruitment into the Civil Service, and provides advice under the Business Appointment Rules for civil servants at SCS Pay Bands 3 and 4 and special advisers at Pay Band 4.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Cabinet Office has issued guidance to (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) civil servants on the change in Labour Party leadership.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

Internal guidance on the conduct of UKG civil servants, including special advisers, has been provided to departments in the usual way.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to make changes to Freedom of Information cost thresholds.

Answered by Chris Ward

The Government is committed to Freedom of Information (“FOI”) and continues to monitor the performance and implementation of the FOI Act to ensure it is operating as intended by Parliament.

We do not have any current plans to amend the FOI Act or the cost thresholds.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department plans to have discussions with trade unions on the refresh of the Civil Service Code; whether his Department plans to share the draft Code with the relevant (a) Commons and (b) Lords Select Committees prior to being finalised; and whether his Department plans to hold a public consultation on the changes.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

The Cabinet Secretary has set out her intention to refresh the Civil Service Code to ensure it is up to date, well understood, and adhered to across the Civil Service.

The Cabinet Secretary spoke about this work in her oral evidence to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee on 15 June.

Further updates will be communicated in due course.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, further to the guidance, PPN 024 - The Public Interest Test and Insourcing Strategy, published on 17 June 2026, what are the type of public interest considerations that would be deemed appropriate to justify insourcing.

Answered by Chris Ward

This Government was elected with a mandate to deliver the largest wave of insourcing in a generation. The Public Interest Test (PIT) is a key step in achieving this. It will mean rebuilding in-house capacity and it will enable decision makers to holistically assess long-term value for taxpayer money, service quality, and broader economic and social goals when making sourcing decisions.

A robust PIT assessment will consider whole-life costs, local investment, and organisational resilience as core components of the appraisal. By understanding the long-term benefits of a stable, in-house workforce and the impact of direct public investment, practitioners can ensure that delivery decisions reflect the true value provided to the public.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 15 June 2026, to Question 7133, on Cabinet Office: Expenditure, if he will publish the most recent public sentiment polling for (a) England and (b) Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, further to the British Polling Council guidance.

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

There are no plans to publish this information.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 15 June 2026, to Question 4129, on Erasmus+ programme, whether the "Funded by UK Government" branding manual will be updated.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

Updates to the branding manual are routinely conducted.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether any Ministers attended the People's Panel on Digital ID weekends in Birmingham in May and June 2026.

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

The Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, participated remotely on the final weekend to give remarks and the Minister of State, James Frith MP, attended the final weekend of the People’s Panel on Digital ID in Birmingham.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 13 April 2026 to Question 124130 on Government Departments: Communication, whether the special advisers who reviewed the branding guidance included special advisers from the Office of the Prime Minister.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

Relevant officials and special advisers reviewed the branding guidance.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 23 June 2026, to Question 9084, on Lord Mandelson, what information his Department holds on whether the Intelligence and Security Committee had access to independent legal advice other than Cabinet Office or Government Legal Service lawyers for the consideration of the redactions on the Humble Address.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

The Government does not comment on the resourcing decisions taken by the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC).

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government Communications Service is being reduced in size as part of departmental efficiency targets.

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

To ensure we deliver value for money for the taxpayer, the Government Communication Service continuously assesses the size of its communication teams, to ensure effectiveness and efficiency.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 15 June 2026 to Question 4233 on Government Communication Service, what the equivalent budget and headcount was for predecessor bodies to the Government Media Unit in 2025-26.

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

The Government Media Unit is a new unit within the Government Communication Service.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the information Lord Mandelson provided as part of the vetting process for his appointment to UK Ambassador to the United States impacted his dismissal from that role.

Answered by Seema Malhotra

The Prime Minister made the decision to withdraw Peter Mandelson as Ambassador to the United States on 11 September 2025. The decision was made in light of the publication of emails written by Peter Mandelson that showed that the depth and extent of his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein was materially different from that known at the time of his appointment.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2026 to Question 8053 on UK Statistics Authority: Elections, what is the basis for the UKSA issuing public comments on party political content by (a) political parties and (b) opposition Hon Members during the May 2026 pre-election purdah period.

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

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

A response to the Parliamentary Question of 1st July is attached.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to Volumes 1 and 2 of the Government response to the Humble Address on Lord Mandelson, if he will publish the completed UKSV tick box vetting form relating to Lord Mandelson.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

I refer the Hon Member to the Government’s statement and release of information on 1st June, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The documents published in the first and second tranches contain the entirety of the documents the Government has available for disclosure, except those being withheld at the request of the Metropolitan police.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 5 June 2026 to Question 5780 on Lord Mandelson, whether the Gordon Brown correspondence on Lord Mandelson was passed to the Metropolitan Police.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

I refer the Hon Member to the Government’s statement and release of information on 1st June, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The documents published in the first and second tranches contain the entirety of the documents the Government has available for disclosure, except those being withheld at the request of the Metropolitan police.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 16 April 2026 to Question HL15091 on Propriety and Constitution Group, whether Ministers will be consulted on (a) the recruitment campaign and (b) the final appointment.

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

If a Minister is involved in this appointment, their involvement in the recruitment campaign and final appointment will be agreed upon during the planning stage, in accordance with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the statement of 11 March 2026, Official Report, Column 364, on Lord Mandelson: Response to Humble Address Motion, for what reason she did not receive the request to approve the exit payment to Lord Mandelson.

Answered by Seema Malhotra

The process around approval of the payment was set out by the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister in his statement to the House on 11 March. When officials at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) submitted the business case to HM Treasury, it was copied to individuals in the Cabinet Office and in No10 Downing Street, but was not sent to any FCDO ministers.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the written statement of 17 June 2026, HCWS120, on Update of Insourcing, what the cost is of the contracts relating to the 83 government buildings that expire in 2028.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)

The published contract award value for the 11 contracts covering the 83 buildings is £477m, the contracts were awarded in 2022 and began in September / October 2023. The end of the initial term is October 2028.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason Matthew Doyle was asked to undertake supplementary due diligence on Lord Mandelson being appointed as Ambassador, and whether the nature of Mr Doyle’s relationship with Mandelson was (a) declared or (b) considered as a potential conflict of interest.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

I refer the Hon Member to the Government’s statement and release of information on 1st June, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The documents published in the first and second tranches contain the entirety of the documents the Government has available for disclosure, except those being withheld at the request of the Metropolitan police.

Found: Questions 1 - 16 Representations made I: Andrew Ranger II: Josh Newbury III: Mike Wood IV: Mr Toby Perkins