Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's policy paper entitled UK-EU Summit - Common Understanding, updated on 22 December 2025, whether he intends that the Government will make additional financial contributions to the European Union related to the provision of services through entry and temporary stay of natural persons for business purposes.

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

The UK and EU have agreed to set up dedicated dialogues on short term business mobility and the recognition of professional qualifications. This will create a forum for us to address mobility barriers faced by UK services providers in the EU. This will not involve a financial contribution to the European Union.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Ministers in his Department have received coaching in a foreign language funded by his Department since July 2024.

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

No Cabinet Office Ministers have received any coaching in foreign languages funded by the department since July 2024.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 4 September 2025 to Question 70478 on Disinformation, if he will publish the (a) contract and (b) terms of reference for the Storyzy service.

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

Please find contractual information relating to the Storyzy service at the following link:

https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/notice/57daa888-59d7-4ae2-8f9f-3977a4aa80a4?origin=SearchResults&p=1

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 7 November 2025 to Question 86666 on Government Departments: Advertising, and with reference to paragraph 223 of his Department's publication entitled Guide to Parliamentary Work, updated on 19 November 2024, if he will set out the public interest basis for not disclosing the full list of publications assessed under the SAFE framework.

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

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer of PQ108665.

There are currently no plans to publish the full list of publications assessed under the SAFE framework as the area remains subject to ongoing policy development. Premature publication of the inclusion list would have negative impacts.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2026 to Question 104160 on Publications: Gender, which publishers were assessed but not included in the inclusion list.

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

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer of PQ108665.

There are currently no plans to publish the full list of publications assessed under the SAFE framework as the area remains subject to ongoing policy development. Premature publication of the inclusion list would have negative impacts.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 20 November 2025 to Question 90241 on 10 Downing Street: Official Hospitality, how much has been spent on hospitality by No10 since 4 July 2024.

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

I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 20 May 2025, Official Report, PQ 49763.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 5 January 2026, to Question 100882, on Disinformation, whether Storyzy is used to monitor content relating to gender issues.

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

GCS does not use Storyzy to monitor content relating to gender issues.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what changes have been made to (a) Cabinet Office, (b) Government Digital Service and (c) Government Communications Service guidance on the use of (i) HM Government and (ii) UK Government branding, including when the latter should be used rather than the former in publicity and communications since July 2024.

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

Since July 2024, guidance has been updated to reflect the new Royal Coat of Arms following the accession of His Majesty The King.

A strategic decision has been made to adopt "UK Government" as the primary identity for all public-facing communications.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will request that the Ethics and Integrity Commission undertakes an investigation in Arden Strategies and lobbying integrity.

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

The purpose of the Ethics and Integrity Commission is to promote the highest standards in public life. Its terms of reference set out its responsibilities and remit, which can be found at the following link: https://eic.independent-commission.uk/what-we-do/terms-of-reference/

As set out in the terms of reference, the Ethics and Integrity Commission does not investigate individual cases.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 5 January 2026 to Question 92580 if he will list the 39 business cases that were approved.

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

Due to commercial sensitivities, business case titles not covered by the Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP) are not published.

All projects and programmes on the GMPP must publish a Summary, Full, or Programme Business Case on GOV.UK within four months of receiving HM Treasury approval. A copy must also be deposited in the House of Commons Library.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2025 to Question 104163 on Public Appointments: Political Impartiality, which public body holds the data on past political activity held in the Public Appointments Digital Service online application database.

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

The Public Appointments Digital Service is operated by the Cabinet Office. As set out in the service’s privacy notice, the Cabinet Office, Office for the Commissioner of Public Appointments and the recruiting government department are joint data controllers for the political activity data held within the service.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, further to the Cabinet Office press release entitled Young people from all backgrounds to get opportunity to study abroad as UK-EU deal unlocks Erasmus+, published on 17 December 2025, on what basis was the £570 million a year cost calculated; and what estimate he has made of the potential cost to the public pursue of (a) EU students studying in the UK and (b) UK students studying in the EU.

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

I refer the hon. Member for Kingswinford and South Staffordshire to the answer of 2 February 2026 to Question 107708.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the Government provides funding to Jean Monnet activities.

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

Jean Monnet Actions are funded from a dedicated share of the Erasmus+ budget. When the UK associates to Erasmus+, it will contribute to the overall programme budget.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the new proposed dynamic alignment with the EU will ban the sale of oatcakes in the UK due to new EU agricultural standards.

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

The oats sector plays a vital role in UK agriculture, particularly in Scotland, and we fully recognise the importance of this issue for those businesses.

As announced at the UK-EU Leaders' Summit in May 2025, the UK and EU have agreed to work towards a common SPS Area. We have been clear that in some areas we will need to account for conditions specific to Great Britain; and on the importance of ensuring that the SPS Agreement delivers positive outcomes for businesses across the UK, while safeguarding our high standards.

Officials in Defra are actively engaging with industry representatives on this important issue, as well as with the Scottish Government.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will publish a list of programmes and schemes that require the UK to provide payments to the EU and are not included in the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement of 2020.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

All UK participation in EU programmes takes place under the framework of Part V of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). The UK has participated in two EU programmes since 2023, the Horizon Europe research and development programme and Copernicus earth observation programme. The UK will also participate in the Erasmus+ education, youth and sport programme in 2027. Payments are published by the responsible department in its Annual Report and Accounts.

The UK also fulfils obligations related to outstanding EU commitments from the UK’s participation in the EU budget before 31 January 2020, as agreed under the Withdrawal Agreement. This is paid by HM Treasury, and details of payments can be found in HM Treasury's EU Finances Statement, published annually.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what role the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) has in monitoring Bloom Procurement Services Ltd’s compliance with the NEPRO3 framework; and whether CCS is required to audit the fees and margins applied by Procurement Services Ltd on behalf of client departments.

Answered by Chris Ward - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The NEPRO3 framework is not managed or administered by the Crown Commercial Service (CCS).

CCS does not monitor the compliance of Bloom Procurement Services Ltd with the NEPRO3 framework, and it does not have a role in auditing any fees or margins that may be applied by Bloom Procurement Services Ltd to departments.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 21 October 2025, to Question 82673 on Government Departments: Social Media, how much has been spent on social influencers through (a) OmniGov and (b) Pablo Unlimited since July 2024.

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

Spend on influencer costs (exclusive of agency fees) since July 2024 to the date of this PQ is £365,331. This figure is reflective of currency conversion rates at the time of the request.

Please note, some data has been withheld due to commercial and wider sensitivities.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 9 April 2025 to Question 42994 on Government Departments: Aviation, whether helicopter travel under the Central Cabinet Office Corporate Travel Agency Contract has been commissioned since April 2025.

Answered by Chris Ward - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Ministerial travel is carefully considered to ensure both efficiency and the interests of the taxpayer are prioritised.

While the Cabinet Office can facilitate helicopter travel in exceptional circumstances, routine helicopter journeys for ministers are no longer carried out under this Government.

Helicopter travel has been commissioned under the Cabinet Office Central Travel Contract on five occasions since April 2025. Only one of these flights was for a government minister.

24 Prime Ministerial helicopter tasks were facilitated under the Command Support Air Transport Fleet between 01 February 2021 and 04 September 2023.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Government's correspondence entitled Letter from the Prime Minister on government transparency and open data, published on 14 December 2017, whether the approach set out in the letter is Government policy.

Answered by Chris Ward - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Government's approach to transparency and open data is set out on GOV.UK at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/how-to-publish-central-government-transparency-data.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish Department’s fixed asset register.

Answered by Chris Ward - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Summary information relating to the Cabinet Office fixed asset register is available in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the proposed dynamic alignment with the EU will prevent the adoption of gene-edited crops under the provisions of the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023.

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

Defra remains committed to implementing the Precision Breeding Act and enabling the safe development of innovative genetic technologies

Under the UK-EU Common Understanding, it is recognised that there will be areas where the UK will retain its own rules. The detail of those areas is now part of ongoing negotiations. Throughout this process, Defra has been clear on the importance of maintaining the UK’s ability to regulate precision breeding in a way that supports innovation, gives farmers access to new tools, and upholds high standards of safety.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 26 November 2025 to Question 92286 on Government Departments: Official Cars, which Government Departments have access to a official car that can be used by civil servants.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

I refer the Hon Member to my answer on 26 November 2025 (PQ 92286).

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his renegotiation of EU agreements, what is his policy on (a) asymmetric or (b) symmetric early termination payments, payable (i) by the United Kingdom if it terminates early and (ii) by the European Union if they terminate early.

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

The details of any agreements, including specific clauses, are subject to ongoing negotiations with the EU. We will not provide a running commentary on the progress of those negotiations, although I would note termination provisions are routine in international agreements.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 5 January 2025 to Question 100331 on Ministers: Official Cars, how many civil servants have access to an official car from the Government Car Service.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

I refer the Hon Member to my answer on 14 January 2026 (PQ 103782).

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the deadline for applications for the appointment of the Chair of Ofcom was set for either (a) 18 December 2025 or (b) 5 January 2026.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The advert for applications was launched on 17 November 2025, with a deadline of 18 December 2025. On 17 December, the application deadline was extended until 5 January 2026, and the advert on gov.uk was amended to reflect this change.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much his Department has spent on X premium, and on which tier, in the last 12 months.

Answered by Chris Ward - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Cabinet Office has spent £302.40 on X premium for two subscriptions in the last 12 months.

(i) COBR’s National Situation Centre paid for its National Security Watchkeepers to access the X-Premium+ service X Pro. The National Security Watchkeepers use X Pro, and other tools, to monitor open source information to identify national security and civil contingencies risks.

(ii) Fast Stream and Emerging Talent spent £100.80 on X Premium membership in FY25/26. This was mainly because it provides access to an analytics dashboard, not available on the free version, to monitor campaign effectiveness. It also allows for longer posts, enabling us to better engage with our target audience. This membership will not be renewed for the next financial year.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 26 November 2025 to Question 92012 on Cabinet Office: training, if he will publish a breakdown of costs for the £5,288.40 spent on the away days.

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

The cost of Cabinet away days are disclosed in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts. Some of the costs were inadvertently omitted from the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25 due to an administrative error. The total cost incurred was £8,248.40

The Cabinet away day taking place at The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office came at a cost of £2,960 for catering.

The Cabinet away day taking place at Lancaster House came at a cost of £5,288.40, covering expenses for AV, catering, security and staff.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether life peers who are on a Leave of Absence may be removed from the Roll of the Peerage.

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

The June 2004 Royal Warrant provided for the creation and maintenance of the Roll of the Peerage. Under the terms of the Warrant, any person entered on the Roll may apply to be removed from it, including life peers who are on a Leave of Absence.

The Government has announced that it will introduce legislation to allow peerages to be removed from disgraced peers.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the answer of 10 October 2025 to Question 74531 on Ministers' Private Offices: Civil Service, what the title and grade was of that appointment; and for what reason that appointment was made by exception.

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

The appointment related to a short-term transfer from another Government department that was made at a junior grade. An exception was used to make this appointment quickly, selecting an individual who already possessed the essential skills and experience required to perform the role. This role was subsequently confirmed through fair and open competition.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2026 to Question 107710, on Erasmus+ programme: flags, whether any other Government programme in Great Britain will now be required to follow European Commission communication and visibility rules.

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

Article 25 of Regulation (EU) 2021/817 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2021 establishing Erasmus+: the Union Programme for education and training, youth and sport and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1288/2013 (“the Erasmus+ Regulation”) sets out the requirements for information, communication and dissemination which apply to the Erasmus+ programme.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 2 February 2026 to Question 107710 on Erasmus+ programme: flags, whether the European Commission communication and visibility rules will apply to universities participating in the scheme.

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

Article 25 of Regulation (EU) 2021/817 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2021 establishing Erasmus+: the Union Programme for education and training, youth and sport and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1288/2013 (“the Erasmus+ Regulation”) sets out the requirements for information, communication and dissemination which apply to the Erasmus+ programme.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2026, to Question 107710, on Erasmus+ programme: flags, which legal instrument sets out the European Commission communication and visibility rules.

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

Article 25 of Regulation (EU) 2021/817 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2021 establishing Erasmus+: the Union Programme for education and training, youth and sport and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1288/2013 (“the Erasmus+ Regulation”) sets out the requirements for information, communication and dissemination which apply to the Erasmus+ programme.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of Digital ID on Right to Work checks.

Answered by Josh Simons

As the Prime Minister has recently stated in the House of Commons, there will be checks. They will be digital and they will be mandatory.

We will consult on the technical detail of how this will be implemented.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 27 November 2025 to Question 92613 on Digital Technology: Identity Cards, whether Digital ID will be required for Digital Right to Work checks.

Answered by Josh Simons

As the Prime Minister has recently stated in the House of Commons, there will be checks. They will be digital and they will be mandatory.

We will consult on the technical details of how this will be implemented.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Direct Ministerial Appointments have to declare political activity prior to appointment; what requirements they have to declare political activity whilst in post; and whether they are subject to restrictions on political campaigning and activity.

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

Direct Ministerial Appointments are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. This requires consideration of all political activity where that is an actual or perceived conflict to their role. The Code of Conduct also outlines the processes to be followed to consult with an appointing body or a sponsor department before significant political activity is undertaken by an appointee. The scope of acceptable political activity, including exemptions for those appointees who already hold elected office, are set out within the Code’s guidance. These processes are administered by the appointing body.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will place in the Library a copy of the election purdah guidance distributed to Whitehall departments for the Gorton and Denton Parliamentary by-election.

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

The rules governing the conduct of UK Government civil servants during a by-election are an extension of those that apply at all times as set out in the Civil Service Code and as described in the published guidance on general elections, which is published on gov.uk and can be found here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/election-guidance-for-civil-servants. A reminder of these rules was provided to departments following the calling of the Gorton and Denton by-election.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the corrected Answer of 7 January 2026 to Question 98100 on Cabinet Office: Public Appointments and with reference to his Department's document entitled Guidance on Making Direct Ministerial Appointments, published in October 2025, if he will provide a hyperlink to the information in that answer on gov.uk, including time commitment and appointment end date.

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

Information related to Direct Ministerial Appointments is available on the Direct Ministerial Appointments page on the HMG Public Appointments website.