Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether UK (a) schools, (b) colleges, (c) universities and (d) teacher training institutions participating in the Erasmus+ programme will be required to follow the publicity requirements set out by the European Commission, Erasmus+ Programme: Model Grant Agreement, November 2024, section 17.2, Visibility — European flag and funding statement.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

UK schools, colleges, universities and teacher training institutions participating in Erasmus+ will be required to follow any publicity requirements set out in their grant agreements. There is no requirement to fly the EU flag. Visibility requirements primarily relate to documents such as publicity and communications material about the funded activity. For example, a brochure about an Erasmus+ opportunity may need to acknowledge EU support by including the EU emblem and stating that it has been funded or co-funded by the EU. This applies whether funding is received from the European Education and Culture Executive Agency or via the UK’s National Agency and relates only to activities funded by Erasmus+.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 18 March 2026 to Question 118531 on Peers, whether the Governance Code on Public Appointments applies to the appointment of peers to the House of Lords.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The Governance Code on Public Appointments does not apply to the appointment of peers to the House of Lords.

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the transparency data entitled Expenditure Over £25,000 - February 2026 (Cabinet Office Core), published on 26 March 2026, what activities will be funded through the LGBT programme to the Council of Europe; and whether his Department plans to make further payments to that programme.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK Government provided a one-off voluntary contribution to support the work of the Council of Europe’s LGBT+ programme. This programme funds activities designed to enhance the legislative and institutional capacities of national stakeholders, ensuring they can effectively uphold and advance the human rights of LGBT+ persons. To date, the project has successfully supported over 36 activities across 16 member states and Council-wide initiatives, focusing on legal reform and policy implementation.

Future funding decisions will continue to be reviewed and provided based on an assessment of performance, demonstrable impact, and value for money.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether guidance on Ministerial involvement in the Honours System has been updated since July 2024.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Guidance on ministerial involvement in the Honours System was last updated in June 2022. In July 2025, the Prime Minister's Office issued an updated set of Prime Ministerial Priorities to departments which included a summary of the existing roles and responsibilities of both Secretaries of State and Permanent Secretaries. These priorities were published on gov.uk.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish current Civil Service guidance on speaking to the media.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

This guidance is currently under development in a live policy area.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Deposited Paper DEP2025-0353, committed on 6 June 2025, what the cost to the public purse was of the Prime Minister's domestic flights in 2025.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Ministerial travel is undertaken using efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements. Security considerations are also taken into account.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Ministers can have Ministerial responsibilities removed and remain in post.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

As per paragraph 7.1 of the Ministerial Code, the Prime Minister is responsible for the overall organisation of the executive and the allocation of functions between ministers in charge of departments.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the Cabinet Office Board Operating Framework.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

There is no requirement for departments to publish Board Operating Frameworks, however the governance system it describes is included as part of the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts (published yearly) and in the Accounting Officer System Statement (which is due to be updated in the near future). These documents are available on Gov.uk.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the terms of reference of the Cabinet Office Staff Board.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The Staff Board serves in an advisory capacity to the Executive Committee and is not a mandatory component of the Corporate Governance Code. Its Terms of Reference are not subject to external publication.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether (a) Downing Street and (b) his Department hold regular group calls for consultant lobbyists.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Details of Ministers and Senior Officials' meetings, including those held using video or audio-conferencing technology, and including phone calls where these replace or take the format of an official meeting, are published by departments on GOV.UK every quarter.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Cabinet Office guidance entitled May 2026 Elections: guidance on conduct for civil servants, updated on 2 March 2026, has affected the timing of the publication of the Defence Investment Plan.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

We will publish the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) when it is ready. It is essential that we take the time required to ensure decisions are robust and support the transformation of the Armed Forces outlined in the Strategic Defence Review. Once finalised, the DIP will be laid before Parliament in accordance with the appropriate Parliamentary procedures.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to (a) review and (b) update his Department's document entitled Guidance for the management of Private Office information and records, following Lord Mandelson’s appointment.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

This guidance was issued on 29 December 2023. There are no plans to update this guidance at this time.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the current HMG Security Policy Framework.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Secretary of State for Defence

The current Security Policy Framework (SPF) was published in 2014. There are no plans to update it as this has been superseded by the publication of the functional standards in 2020, which include a specific functional standard for security (GovS 007). This can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-functional-standard-govs-007-security

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions has the UK Government had with the Scottish Government on the operation of the UK Internal Market in relation to the proposals of the new Scottish Government administration to introduce price controls on household goods.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The UK Government has not discussed legislative proposals on this issue with the incoming Scottish Government. It is unlikely this policy would interact with the UK Internal Market (UKIM) Act, and any interaction would depend on how the legislation is designed. The UKIM Act does not prevent the Scottish Government from introducing legislation – it is for the Scottish Government to design this policy and ensure that any legislation is within its competence.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 25 March 2026 to Question 116506 on 9 Downing Street: Repairs and Maintenance, if he will place in the Library a copy of the OCS invoice dated 6 November 2025 relating to the works on the 9 Downing Street media room.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

The OCS invoice paid by the Government Property Agency dated 6th November 2025 and paid on 12th November 2025 can be found in the November 2025 Cabinet Office spend data as published on https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cabinet-office-spend-data.

The item is reference 387.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the answer of 25 March 2026 to Question 116506 on 9 Downing Street: Repairs and Maintenance, what the transaction number, value and date is for the reimbursed payment to the Government Property Agency; and whether the January publication referenced is the January data published in February 2026.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

The transfer payment from Cabinet Office to GPA is included in the January data published in February 2026, item 133, transaction 2037004468.

The OCS invoice for the 9 Downing Street works in the published data for the month of November 2025 is item 387, 10000204, OCS Group UK Limited, Transaction HZ820722.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the answer of 20 April 2026 to Question 124839 on 9 Downing Street: Repairs and Maintenance, whether the OCS invoice for the works in the data for November 2025 is transaction (a) HZ820722, (b) HZ824136 and (c) HZ819861.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

The OCS invoice for the 9 Downing Street works in the published data for the month of November 2025 is item 387, 10000204, OCS Group UK Limited, (a) Transaction HZ820722.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the (a) Prime Minister and (b) Prime Minister's Chief Secretary has had discussions with JP Morgan on business rate discounts on offices in Canary Wharf.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Details of official meetings held in a ministerial capacity with external organisations or individuals are declared quarterly on GOV.UK in the usual way.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate has been made of the expected expenditure on exit payments to Ministers in the last month.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Details of ministerial severance payments are published in the relevant department’s annual report and accounts.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 20 April 2026 to Question 124834 on Intelligence and Security Committee: Press Releases, whether the uplift in resourcing to the Intelligence and Security Committee included resource to obtain legal advice on the Humble Address independent from (a) Cabinet Office legal advisers and (b) the Government Legal Service.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

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, what the revised terms of reference are for the review into security vetting led by Sir Adrian Fulford; who will he report to; and whether the review will be made public.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Secretary of State for Defence

Sir Adrian Fulford will provide his report to the Cabinet Secretary and the Security Minister (as the Minister responsible for National Security Vetting). A summary of the report, setting out Sir Adrian’s recommendations and findings, will be published in due course. The Terms of Reference for the Review will also be published.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what are the terms of reference of the review into the FCDO and UKSC vetting process; and who it will report to.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Secretary of State for Defence

Sir Adrian Fulford will provide his report to the Cabinet Secretary and the Security Minister (as the Minister responsible for National Security Vetting). A summary of the report, setting out Sir Adrian’s recommendations and findings, will be published in due course. The Terms of Reference for the Review will also be published.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 16 February 2026 to Question 110418 on By-elections: Gorton and Denton, if he will publish reminder guidance that has been issued on the Makerfield and Aberdeen South by-elections.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

An internal reminder of the rules governing the conduct of UK Government civil servants - which are an extension of those that apply at all times as set out in the Civil Service code - has been provided to departments in the usual way, following the calling of the by elections in Makerfield, Aberdeen South, and Arbroath & Broughty Ferry.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Lord Mandelson’s emails to and from John Pond will be disclosed at part of the Government response to the Humble Address.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

I refer you to the Oral Statement on the 27 April providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves. As the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister told the House on 19th May, the Government will publish a second tranche of material after the Whitsun recess to give the House sufficient time to review the material.

All relevant individuals have been instructed to retain and provide to the Cabinet Office all information they hold that falls in scope of the Humble Address motion.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the answer of 15 April 2026, to Question 123696, on EU Cohesion Fund, in which policy areas could the UK make payments towards EU cohesion or structural funds, following the EU/UK reset.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The UK is not currently contributing to EU Cohesion Funds as a consequence of the UK/EU reset. Whilst the EU is seeking an appropriate UK financial contribution to the EU’s cohesion policy, alongside an electricity agreement, any contribution would be subject to negotiations with the EU, and no contributions have yet been made or agreed upon. We will not provide a running commentary on the progress of those negotiations.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 10 March 2026 to Question 114871 on Global Counsel, whether Lord Mandelson was in attendance at the dinners with Matthew Doyle.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

I refer you to the Oral Statement on the 27 April providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves. As the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister told the House on 19th May, the Government will publish a second tranche of material after the Whitsun recess to give the House sufficient time to review the material.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 4 March 2026 to Question 115552 on Public Appointments, if he will publish the due diligence processes agreed by the Cabinet Office's Accounting Officer that were used as the basis for the due diligence undertaken by the Cabinet Office on Lord Mandelson.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

I refer the hon Member to ‘Part of a Return to an Address of the Honourable the House of Commons dated 4 February 2026 relating to the appointment of Lord Mandelson as HM Ambassador to Washington - Volume I’, pages 10-14 and to the letter from the former Cabinet Secretary to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee of 30 October 2025.

This sets out information about the due diligence exercise conducted prior to Peter Mandelson’s appointment. Peter Mandelson was not a regulated public appointment, direct ministerial appointment or special adviser.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the answer of 27 April 2026, to Question 124843, on Civil Servants: Dismissal, whether his Department considers that Lord Mandelson gave false information or withheld relevant details during his recruitment or vetting process.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, the statement made by the Prime Minister on 20 April, and the Government’s response to the debate of 21 April, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves. As the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister told the House on 19th May, the Government will publish a second tranche of material after the Whitsun recess to give the House sufficient time to review the material.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the answer of 15 April 2026 to Question 123696 on EU Cohesion Fund, for what reason joining the EU electricity market requires payments to reduce economic and social disparities.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The UK is not currently contributing to EU Cohesion Funds as a consequence of the UK/EU reset. The EU is seeking an appropriate UK financial contribution to the EU’s cohesion policy, alongside an electricity agreement. Any UK financial contribution would be subject to negotiations with the EU, and no contributions have yet been made or agreed upon.The government is clear that agreements made with the EU must be in the national interest, and that whilst trade-offs will be required, these are worth making where the economic gains to the UK exceed the costs. The UK anticipates that formal negotiations on electricity market participation will begin shortly.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the Cabinet Office Freedom of Information Act response, Reference: FOI2026/04977, of 10 April 2026.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

I will deposit the referenced FOI in the Commons Library.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office during the Opposition Day debate on Lord Mandelson on 2 February 2025, Official Report, column 372, what was the name of the KC previously paid by the Cabinet Office to assist on the review into Lord Mandelson.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

David Blundell KC is the independent KC providing advice to the Cabinet Office on the Government's response to the Humble Address.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 27 March 2026 to Question 111158 on Lord Mandelson, whether an independent KC is currently assisting the Cabinet Office in relation to the Government's response to the Humble Address, including the scope and redactions process.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

David Blundell KC is the independent KC providing advice to the Cabinet Office on the Government's response to the Humble Address.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Cabinet Office Freedom of Information Act response, reference FOI2026/04975 dated 13 April 2026, on Downing Street expenditure, if he will list the suppliers for the (a) goods and (b) services included.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The residence above the Prime Minister’s Office was empty and so was furnished within existing budgets and with value for money in mind. This has been available for successive administrations. Items purchased came from Amazon, Argos, Ikea, Next, Dunelm, John Lewis, Melody Maison, Sleep Style, Crafty Creations, Danetti and Instyle Direct. 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, how many direct ministerial appointments currently in post have not had details of their appointment added to the direct ministerial appointment portal on gov.uk.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

As set out in the responses to questions 116770 and 123216, the responsibility for the publication of information on Direct Ministerial Appointments rests with individual sponsor departments. The Guidance on Making Direct Ministerial Appointments states that it is for individual departments to decide the most appropriate processes to strategically manage the DMAs that they make, which will include adding existing DMAs to the portal.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the answer of 31 March 2026 to Question 113783 on Cabinet Office: Reviews, whether the Propriety and Ethics Team took a preliminary view on whether the Ministerial Code was broken before the matter was referred.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

I refer the Hon Member to the response given to the Rt Hon Member of Hayes and Harlington’s point of order on 23 February (Column 40).

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the answer of 20 April 2026 to Question 125527 on Erasmus+ Programme, if he will provide the direct relevant hyperlink to the specific amendments to Protocol I.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Decision No 1/2026 of the Specialised Committee on Participation in Union Programmes under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, amends Protocol I of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. This Decision sets out the specific amendments to Protocol I and can be access via gov.uk. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/decision-no-12026-of-the-specialised-committee-on-participation-in-union-programmes-under-the-trade-and-cooperation-agreement-amending-protocol-i-of-t

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the King's Speech 2026: background briefing notes, published 13 May 2026, on the Removal of Peerages Bill, whether the powers will apply to hereditary peers.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

As set out in the King’s Speech, the Government will introduce legislation to create a mechanism to remove peerages from disgraced peers, and will provide further details in due course. As he will be aware, there are no longer any Members of the House of Lords who sit as hereditary peers.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the answer of 15 April 2026, to Question 125413, on UK Trade with EU: Dispute Resolution, where the public expression of interest for the UK panellists was published and advertised.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The call for panellists was published on gov.uk, and can be found here.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 18 March 2026 to Question 119406 on Ian Horobin, how are conventions on such peerage matters (a) established and (b) amended.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Conventions form part of our uncodified constitution. They are rules of constitutional practice that are generally accepted, and regarded as binding in operation, but not in law. Conventions are not static, but are developed and evolve to reflect changing circumstances.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the answer of 29 April 2026 to Question 129162 on Cabinet Office: Written Questions and further to the ICO Decision Notice IC-382003-M4X6 issued to the Cabinet Office on 29 January 2026, how many party political events were in the Ministerial diary of the Prime Minister in the week of 13 April 2026.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Details of official meetings held in a ministerial capacity with external organisations or individuals are declared quarterly on GOV.UK. Party political meetings and events are a matter for the Labour Party.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment has he made of the potential impact of an EU youth mobility scheme on (a) domestic unemployment levels, (b) domestic welfare dependency and (c) the number of young UK nationals in work.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

This Government is committed to ensuring opportunities for young British citizens to live, work, study, and travel across the European Union. That is why at the 2025 UK-EU Summit, we agreed to negotiate a balanced youth experience scheme with the EU. We have agreed that any scheme will be capped, subject to a visa requirement, as well as time-limited, ensuring any impact of the scheme is controlled. The scheme will give young British citizens the opportunity to develop personal and professional experiences, which will boost their employment prospects. We have been clear that the scheme should be in line with the UK’s existing schemes, such as with Australia and New Zealand. The exact parameters of the scheme are subject of ongoing negotiations.

Social Security

Energy Conservation

Found: of 52 (86.5%) Christian Wakeford (Labour, Bury South) (added 24 Jun 2025) 16 of 20 (80.0%) Mike Wood