Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the answer of 3 July 2026, to Question 13153, on Erasmus+ Programme, whether the UK Government or British Council would be liable for any financial corrections as a result of grant reductions for breaches of the Erasmus+ obligations.

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

Any grant reduction will be calculated for each beneficiary and must be proportionate to the seriousness and duration of the breach of obligations. Where the beneficiary has received more funding than the reduced grant amount, there will have been an overpayment and recovery of such overpaid funds may take place. For Erasmus+ actions under indirect management, each beneficiary enters into a grant agreement with the UK National Agency and is liable to comply with its terms, including any obligation to repay overpaid sums to the National Agency. The National Agency will apply the recovery procedures set out in the relevant grant agreement to recover those funds from the beneficiary. Article 26(10) of the Erasmus+ Regulation is available here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/817/oj/eng/. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, as National Authority, is responsible for proper management of EU funding received by the National Agency and would be liable to the European Commission for funds not recovered in the circumstances set out in Article 26(11).

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether a Minister resides in 1 Carlton Gardens, and on what date the previous incumbent ended their residency.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Rt Hon Member for Tottenham had use of the ministerial residence at 1 Carlton Gardens until 12 September 2026. As of 5 October 2026, the residence has not been allocated to another Minister.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on what date the Rt Hon Member for Tottenham vacated 1 Carlton Gardens, and whether the residence has been allocated to another Minister.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Rt Hon Member for Tottenham had use of the ministerial residence at 1 Carlton Gardens until 12 September 2026. As of 5 October 2026, the residence has not been allocated to another Minister.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Rt Hon Member for Tottenham is still residing in 1 Carlton Gardens, or whether the residence has been allocated to another Minister.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Rt Hon Member for Tottenham had use of the ministerial residence at 1 Carlton Gardens until 12 September 2026. As of 5 October 2026, the residence has not been allocated to another Minister.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library a copy of the MOD Guidance on visits to military sites by HM Opposition.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question 128586 on the 28 April 2026:

The Ministry of Defence is eager to facilitate more engagement with Parliamentarians, and we are proactively doing so given the importance of Defence within the national conversation. Defence Ministers are committed to ensuring the Department is being more transparent and engaged with MPs from all parties, supporting visits to sites across the UK to meet our brave Service men and women.

Parliamentarians can seek approval to visit an establishment, including requests for media or photography in advance, and these are approved on a case-by-case basis noting security protocols and sensitivities. The most effective route remains to contact the Parliamentary Engagement Lead for the relevant Service in the first instance. Constituency MPs or MPs for immediately neighbouring constituencies may arrange visits directly with local establishments.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list each Non-Legally Binding Instrument that has been signed by the department and it's Arms Length Bodies since July 2024.

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

The Department does not classify agreements in the named category specified in the question. However, the Department has interpreted the term as referring to Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs). On this basis, there are currently 29 MoUs recorded centrally with a start date on or after July 2024.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

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

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

The information requested is not held centrally and could not be provided within the appropriate cost limit.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the UK is participating as a (i) partial or (ii) full member of the (a) European School Education Platform (ESEP) and eTwinning, (b) Electronic Platform for Adult Learning (EPALE), (c) Self-reflection on Effective Learning by Fostering the use of Innovative Educational technologies (SELFIE), (d) European Youth Portal, (e) European Student Card Initiative, (f) Eurydice network, (g) Youth Wiki National Correspondents Network and (h) Network of Higher Education Reform Experts (HEREs); and whether there are any affiliation costs over and above the main UK Government funding to the EU for the whole Erasmus+ programme.

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

There are several bodies, including resource centres, information offices, platforms, and knowledge and expert networks, which support the implementation of the Erasmus+ programme. The UK is not required to pay any further affiliation costs to the EU to engage with these bodies.

Participation in any opt-in Erasmus+ bodies, including those listed, will be confirmed in due course.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate has been made of the annual cost to UK higher educational institutions of allowing EU students to pay home tuition fees.

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

The government has not agreed to reduce tuition costs for EU students. However, we know that there is interest in the EU about greater access to the UK higher education sector. That is not surprising given the world-class institutions we have here. Naturally, we want to continue to attract the very best talent, including EU students, to the UK.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate has been made of the current (a) yearly and (b) cumulative value of unpaid and defaulted student loans held by EU students.

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

As of 30 August 2026, the value of student loans held by EU borrowers whose loans have become liable for repayment which are in arrears is £360 million (to the nearest million). The department is not able to provide this figure broken down by year, as Student Loan Company systems do not maintain a historical year-by-year view of arrears values.

An EU borrower is a borrower who was originally domiciled in an EU country prior to entering higher education in England. Tuition fee funding for new EU students in England without 'settled' or 'pre-settled' status ceased in the 2021/22 academic year. However, those continuing a course remain eligible for financial support for the duration of their course, in addition to those covered by the Withdrawal Agreements, subject to meeting other residency and course requirements.

A loan becomes liable for repayment when the borrower has passed their statutory repayment due date. This is the normally the April after graduating or otherwise leaving their course, provided they are earning above the relevant income threshold.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 17 July 2026 to Question 17743 on UK Trade with EU: Dispute Resolution, what category the expert panellists fall into.

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

The expert panellists are appointed in line with treaty obligations engaged under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, including that they must have specialised knowledge or expertise of labour or environmental law or in the resolution of disputes arising under international agreements.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to Section 18 of the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829, whether the Prime Minister has recused himself on matters relating to appointments in the Church of England.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 10th September 2026.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 18 June 2026 to Question 9022, on Education: Equality, whether universities' admissions policies will be deemed to be a decision of a strategic nature under the socio-economic duty provisions.

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

The socio-economic duty (SED) applies only to specified public authorities when they make decisions of a strategic nature about how to exercise their functions. Universities are autonomous institutions and are responsible for their own admissions decisions. As universities are not listed bodies for the purposes of the SED, their admissions policies would not be deemed decisions of a strategic nature under those provisions.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many No10 special advisers employed under the previous Prime Minister at the end of the Starmer Administration have (a) been retained, (b) joined another department and (c) left government.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Cabinet Office routinely publishes a breakdown of special advisers by department as part of the Annual Report on Special Advisers.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what correspondence (a) Permanent Secretaries and (b) Ministers have had with Flint Global in the last 12 months.

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

It is not routine to disclose correspondence between Ministers or Permanent Secretaries and any individual or organisation.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 9 July 2026, to Question 14616, on DEFRA: Secondment, if she will name the (a) 45 organisations that were seconded from DEFRA and (b) 22 organisations which were seconded to DEFRA.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Our response to PQ 14616 contained an error. The numbers were transposed. The correct position is: “Since July 2024 a total of 22 organisations had Civil Servants seconded to them from Defra whilst in the same period, Defra received secondees from a total of 45 organisations.”

The list below shows the a) 22 organisations that had Civil Servants seconded to them from Defra and b) 45 organisations Defra received secondees from.

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 for transactions PMO OVERSEAS VISITS, FOREIGN COMMONWEALTH & DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, Ref: 2037005036 and 2037005075; and whether there were underlying companies providing goods and services.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The referenced expenditure relates to the former Prime Minister's delegation to the G7 summit in France on the 15-17 June 2026.

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 ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 17 July 2026 to Question 16029 on Darlington Economic Campus: Remote Working, how many DCMS departmental staff are assigned to work at the Darlington Economic Campus, how many desks are assigned to that office for those staff.

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

There are currently 9 FTE staff contracted to our office in Feethams House, Darlington Economic Campus. DCMS currently occupies 6 work stations in Feethams House.

Found: S000153 FISHWICK AUTO SERVICES UNIT 2 7 CANAL ROAD HEREFORD HR1 2EA 01432 354336 N N N Y N N S000154 MIKE WOOD