Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of clause 3(2)(a) of the Public Authority (Accountability) Bill on freedom of speech.

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

The Public Office (Accountability) Bill - known as the ‘Hillsborough Law’ - was introduced in Parliament on 16 September 2025. The Bill includes a new offence of misleading the public. It applies where a public authority or public official acts with the intention of misleading the public (or is reckless as to that possibility) and they know, or ought to know, that their act is seriously improper. This offence has been designed with Hillsborough at the front of mind and is intended to capture the most serious instances of public officials or authorities misleading the public.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 3 September 2025, to Question 70477, on Cabinet Office: Marketing, how much has been spent on digital influencers by the New Media Unit since its establishment.

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

The total amount spent on digital influencer marketing by the New Media Unit since its establishment is £114,796.51. This investment has supported multiple campaigns of varying scale and reach. Influencers have proven to be effective in reaching audiences that traditional marketing channels find hard to reach.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on what date 10 Downing Street became aware of the text messages that led to the resignation of the Prime Minister's Director of Strategy on 15 September 2025.

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

It would not be appropriate to comment on individuals.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Prime Minister was informed of the content of the files obtained by Bloomberg relating to Lord Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein.

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

The Prime Minister knew the content of the emails obtained by Bloomberg early in the evening of Wednesday 10 September.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his Department's policy is on allowing trade union activities to be funded from trade union facility time at public expense.

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

The Cabinet Office Facility Time Framework states that the default position within the Civil Service is that paid time off will not be given for trade union activities. In exceptional circumstances, should a department wish to provide paid time off for activities, it will need to be agreed by their Secretary of State or Chief Executive.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has made payments to Inter Mediate since 4 July 2024.

Answered by Chris Ward - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Cabinet Office has no record of any payments made to Inter Mediate since 4 July 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of (a) 17 July 2025 to Question 62333 on Cabinet Office: Electronic Purchasing Card Solutio and (b) 15 July 2025, to Question 66656 on Government Hospitality: Wines, for what reason wine was procured from Berry Bros rather than from the Government Wine Cellar.

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

A small stock is held to offer to dignitaries and visitors at short notice. This purchase was made when the stock was found to be empty. Any hospitality purchases for these occasions are made with value-for-money for the taxpayer as a priority.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information (a) his Department and (b) the Crown Commercial Service hold on the fee structures used by Bloom Procurement Services Ltd under the NEPRO3 framework; and what proportion of public contracts awarded through NEPRO3 in the 2024–25 financial year involved an undisclosed intermediary fee.

Answered by Chris Ward - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The price of each individual work order procured through Bloom Procurement Services Ltd for the Cabinet Office includes the 5% Delivery Partner’s Managed Services Fee. No other fees are applied.

The Crown Commercial Service holds no information on the fee structures or intermediary fees used by Bloom Procurement Services Ltd under the NEPRO3 framework.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to p.382 of the document entitled Central Government Supply Estimates 2024-25, Main Supply Estimates, HC139, published on 17 July 2025, what policy area relates to the Cabinet Office’s contingent liabilities that are subject to legal privilege.

Answered by Chris Ward - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The contingent liabilities referred to are related to a small number of cases and disputes which are subject to legal privilege. Given this, we are unable to disclose any details.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 1 April 2025 to Question 41254 on Ministers: Aviation, how much his Department has spend on carbon offsetting under the RM6251 Energy Supply Framework since July 2024; and how many tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent have been offset.

Answered by Chris Ward - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

All travel using the GBNI aircraft is offset. This reflects the policy of successive administrations. The total carbon dioxide offset for FY24/25 was 4,582 tCO2e, costing £47,148.78.

The offset for FY25/26 will be calculated at the end of the financial year, reflecting GBNI usage.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Government press release entitled Internship Scheme To Get More Working Class Students Into Civil Service, published on 1 August 2025, whether children of police officers will be eligible to apply for the Summer Internship Programme in her Department in 2026.

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

I refer to the answer given to PQs UIN 74202 and 74515.

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-09-02/74202

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-09-02/74515

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the press release entitled Internship Scheme To Get More Working Class Students Into Civil Service, published on 1 August 2025, whether prison wardens are defined as working class, for the purpose of their children applying to the internship scheme.

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

As we set out in August, we will be opening our Fast Stream Summer Internship Programme exclusively for undergraduates from lower socio-economic backgrounds for 2026. We will determine eligibility based on parental occupation at age 14 in line with guidance from the Social Mobility Commission and the Office for National Statistics definition.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish FOI reference, FOI2025/09624, dated 16 July 2025.

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

A copy of the information released in the response to the referenced Freedom of Information request has been deposited in the Library of the House.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which (a) Ministers and (b) Departments utilise the rooms in 26 Whitehall.

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

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) now occupy 26 Whitehall.

Their Ministers are listed below:

• Liz Kendall MP, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology (Chair)

• Lord Vallance, Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation

• Ian Murray MP, Minister of State

• Kanishka Narayan MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State

• Liz Lloyd, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Digital Economy)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's guidance entitled Public Bodies Handbook – Part 2: The Approvals Process for the Creation of New Arm’s-Length Bodies, whether his Department's public bodies team assessed Passenger Standards Authority against the requirement that the creation of a new arm's length body should only be considered as a last resort; whether the Department for Transport provided evidence that alternative delivery models were considered; and which of the three tests in Chapter 2 of that guidance Great British Railways met.

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

The Department for Transport (DfT) is currently considering delivery options for the Passenger Watchdog.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his Department's policy is on whether (a) trade union diversity networks are eligible for trade union facility time and (b) whether staff can claim both diversity network time and facility time.

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

Trade unions are separate organisations from the Civil Service and they may have their own diversity networks for their members.

In line with the Cabinet Office Facility Time Framework, trade union representatives are entitled to be granted reasonable unpaid time off to participate in trade union activities.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 7 April 2025 to Question 42571 on Cabinet Office: Equality, which diversity networks in his Department received network time in the last month for which figures are held; and how much time was given in each case.

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

Collating and recording network time would present a disproportionate administrative burden on the central HR team as this information is not held centrally.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Prime Minister's oral contribution of 3 September 2025 in response to the Rt hon. Member for North West Essex during Prime Minister's Questions, Official Report, Column 281, on what date he was informed that the Deputy Prime Minister had not correctly paid stamp duty.

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

The Prime Minister was kept updated appropriately.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Government's Plan for Change document of December 2024, CP1210, what changes have been made to the Government’s (a) milestones, (b) missions, (c) foundations and (d) mission boards since 1 September 2025.

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

No changes have been made to the Government’s Plan for Change.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 1 April 2025 to Question 41254 on Ministers: Aviation, whether (a) his Department and (b) the Crown Commercial Service hold information on the (i) locations and (ii) activities undertaken by EDF under that contract.

Answered by Chris Ward - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Cabinet Office has used the HMG Crown Commercial Services (CCS) RM6251 Energy Supply Framework (Additional Services) with EDF for offsetting GBNI related emissions.

CCS has no involvement in the contract beyond providing the framework. The Cabinet Office does not hold details of EDF’s activities or locations under the Energy Supply Framework.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will list (a) the members of the Budget Board and (b) its terms of reference.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether any Ministers from the Department for Business Innovation and Skills were involved in the disposal of RBS Sempra Commodities to JP Morgan in the 2009-10 financial year.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Any such information is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether any civil servants in his Department have been granted authorisation to attend the (a) Labour, (b) Conservative, (c) Liberal Democrat, (d) Scottish National Party and (e) Reform party conference in a private capacity in 2025.

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

This information is not held centrally within the Cabinet Office.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on making the appointment of Ambassadors subject to the regulated public appointments process.

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

Heads of Mission are civil servants and as such are subject to different recruitment and appointment rules and processes to public appointees. The Cabinet Office has no plans to make such roles subject to the regulated public appointment process.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 4 August 2025 to Question HL9337 on Ministers: Official Residences, if he will publish the internal document which states that the sponsoring department will pay the council tax bill for the Minister.

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

Ministers are advised on allocation of an official residence that the responsibility for payment of council tax depends on whether the property is their primary or secondary residence. This is a long-standing policy position in place for successive administrations, reflected in a parliamentary question to the then Prime Minister the Rt Hon Sir Tony Blair as follows:

“The level and responsibility for payment of council tax is determined on whether the property is the Minister's main or secondary residence. If a main residence, the responsibility for payment of the tax falls to the Minister. If the property is a secondary residence, responsibility for payment falls to the responsible Department.”

This question is available at the following link: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199900/cmhansrd/vo000605/text/00605w14.htm#00605w14.html_spmin0.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 4 September 2025 to Question 70468 on Government Communication Service: Staff, what is the most recent estimate of the headcount size of the Government Communication Service, using the same methodology used by the Cabinet Office in the response to FOI IR2025/05101.

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

The figures cited in the parliamentary question and the FOI Internal Review of Government Communications remain the most up to date information available as the 2025 Data Collection is still undergoing validation.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to publish an updated list of Ministerial responsibilities.

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

I refer the Hon Member to the response given to Question HL10390 of 26 September.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 17 September 2025 to Question HL10221 on Baroness Shafik, what Baroness Shafik's remuneration is.

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

It would not be appropriate to comment on individuals. The level of remuneration and the management of relevant outside interests for this role have been agreed in line with relevant guidance and processes.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the interests of the new Executive Director of Communications in 10 Downing Street.

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

There is a rigorous process to ensure any potential conflicts of interest are captured, and have appropriate mitigations in place to reflect specific circumstances. Ahead of his appointment, the new Executive Director of Communications in 10 Downing Street fully complied with this process.

This is set out in the Special Adviser Code of Conduct and lists of Special Adviser interests are published annually.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 23 September 2025 to Question 71198 on Unherd: Advertising, whether the Government Communication Service SAFE framework currently permits government advertising on the websites of (a) The Sun, (b) The Daily Star, (c) Spiked and (d) Ladbible.

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

SAFE framework assessments have been conducted on The Sun, The Daily Star, and Ladbible, and they have been assessed as appropriate for government advertising. No SAFE framework assessment has been conducted on Spiked.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many Permanent Secretaries have left their posts since July 2024; and what was the cost to the public purse of exit packages.

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

Since July 2024, thirteen Permanent Secretaries have left their posts. Any exit package costs are published in Departmental Annual Reports and Accounts for the financial years in which they were made.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's guidance entitled Influencer Marketing Privacy Notice, updated on 10 September 2025, which agencies have been used by (a) his Department and (b) the Government Communications Service to select appropriate influencers to support government communication campaigns since July 2024.

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

Influencers have proven to be effective in reaching audiences that traditional marketing channels find hard to reach.

Influencers work is supported primarily via the agencies OmniGov and Pablo Unlimited via the Campaign Solutions 2 framework, detailed at the following link:

https://www.crowncommercial.gov.uk/agreements/RM6125

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the total expenditure was on Government Car Service cars for Ministers in the week of (a) 1 September 2025 and (b) 8 September 2025.

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

Expenditure details for the period requested are not yet available. Invoicing for Ministerial car usage covering the specified dates has not yet been raised or processed.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 14 July 2025 to Question 65148 on Bank Notes, whether (a) her Department or (b) the Bank of England has an equality, diversity and inclusion policy on the (i) design of and (ii) selection of characters to appear on banknotes.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Bank of England is responsible for all aspects of banknote design and character selection, as set out in the Currency and Bank Notes Act 1954 and the 2025 Memorandum of Understanding between HM Treasury and the Bank of England, which can be found online here: Financial relationship between HM Treasury and the Bank of England Memorandum of Understanding.

As a result, HM Treasury is not involved in decisions on banknote designs or character selections.

Recently, the Bank of England announced that they will be launching a new series of banknotes and over the summer concluded a public consultation on possible themes to be featured on the new series:

Help us design our next series of banknotes | Bank of England

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to establish a sector council for financial services.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Treasury is committed to continuing to work closely with industry as we drive forward our programme to grow our world-leading financial services sector, ensuring that it delivers for UK businesses and consumers.

Treasury ministers regularly meet with a wide range of stakeholders from across the financial services sector. Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 14 July 2025 to Question 65150 on Royal Mint: Committees, whether the (a) Royal Mint Advisory Committee and (b) Sub-Committee on the Selection of Themes have a policy on equality, diversity and inclusion in coin designs.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Royal Mint Advisory Committee advises the Chancellor of the Exchequer (in her capacity as Master of the Mint) on the themes and designs of new coins.

While there is no formal written policy on equality, diversity and inclusion in coin designs or themes, the Committee actively encourages that the themes and designs it recommends reflect diversity in age, race, gender and other characteristics.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Civil Service 2024/2025 External Expenditure on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, published on 30 May 2025, whether his Department holds data on arm’s length bodies expenditure authorised by those bodies in 2024-25.

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

Expenditure which is exempted under the requirements of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Expenditure Guidance must be reported to the Cabinet Office by departments and ALBs who employ civil servants.

Reported expenditure is published annually.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2025 to Question 41438 on Government Departments: Conditions of Employment, whether his Department has issued guidance on the use of (a) zero hour contracts and (b) contingent labour.

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

The Cabinet Office has not issued guidance on (a) zero hours contracts as the Department does not use this method of employment for Cabinet Office employees. In respect of (b) Contingent labour for Cabinet Office, guidance is published as part of the wider Cabinet Office Recruitment Controls.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 30 April 2025 to Question 47195 on Environment Protection: Finance, what is the policy of the Taskforce for Climate-related Financial Disclosure in relation to investment in (a) defence and (b) nuclear weapons.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The UK government formally endorsed the Taskforce for Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) framework in 2021 and has mandated TCFD-aligned disclosure for large entities in the private sector since 2022. The FCA also refers to the TCFD framework in its listing rules and has required TCFD aligned reports since 2021 for listed companies.

The new International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) Standards, so called S1 and S2, are designed to replace the TCFD framework. These draft standards, which will be known as UK Sustainability Reporting Standards (UK SRS) were published for consultation in June 2025, closing in September 2025.

Both UK SRS, and the TCFD framework that they will replace, are disclosure standards that ask firms to disclose financially material climate related risks to their business. The objective of these is to provide investors with consistent, comparable and reliable information about companies' sustainability-related risks and opportunities. These standards are designed to enhance transparency and do not dictate how a company should invest. They do not prevent or impose restrictions on investment in specific sectors, including defence or nuclear weapons.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 3 September 2025 to Question 71231 on New Media Unit: Staff, what the (a) operating costs and (b) budget for (i) marketing and (ii) advertising are for the New Media Unit.

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

Operational costs are charged at a departmental level, rather than being broken down to the team level. The New Media Unit has a budget of £13.2 million allocated for marketing, media, and advertising expenditures.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the (a) methodology and (b) guidance used under the Government Communication Service SAFE framework to assess website.

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

Beyond the information currently accessible via the provided link below, there are no plans to release further detail on the SAFE framework.

https://www.communications.gov.uk/publications/safe-framework-the-4-principles-for-hmg-brand-safety/

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 23 September 2025 to Question 74186 on Cabinet Office: Council Tax, if he will publish that policy.

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

The long-standing policy referred to in Question 74186 was set out in a parliamentary question to the then Prime Minister the Rt Hon Sir Tony Blair as follows:

“The level and responsibility for payment of council tax is determined on whether the property is the Minister's main or secondary residence. If a main residence, the responsibility for payment of the tax falls to the Minister. If the property is a secondary residence, responsibility for payment falls to the responsible Department.”

This question is available at the following link: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199900/cmhansrd/vo000605/text/00605w14.htm#00605w14.html_spmin0.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2025 to Question 75368 on Parliamentary and Political Service Committee: Public Appointments, what the remaining period of time is for each of the independent members’ current terms of office.

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

The Parliamentary and Political Service Honours Committee (PPS Committee) is one of ten specialist honours committees, made up of individuals with considerable experience of the area the committee covers.

The current membership of the PPS Committee comprises an independent chair and four independent members each appointed through a public appointments process, and three official members who are the incumbent chief whips from the three largest political parties in the House of Commons.

The current independent committee memberships appointment terms are as follows:

• Chair: Dame Rosie Winterton DBE. Appointed August 2025 for a 5 year term.

• Member: Lord Johnny Oates. Appointed July 2024 for a 5 year term.

• Member:Lord Iain McNicol. Appointed July 2024 for a 5 year term.

• Member: Professor Stephanie Rickard. Appointed November 2024 for a 5 year term.

• Member: Craig Stephenson OBE. Appointed November 2024 for a 5 year term.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 23 September 2025 to Question 75722 on Government Departments: Advertising, how much was spent by each Department by (a) platform and (b) programme or activity.

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

For section (a) please see the below table, noting that some figures may differ slightly from those previously stated in the referenced parliamentary question. This is due to different accounting practices related to departmental reporting categorisations versus billing categorisations.

The information is being provided in this format to protect potential sensitivities.

For section (b), the information requested is not held in a format suitable for publication.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much additional funding has been allocated to (a) central government departments and (b) local authorities due to the cost of higher National Insurance rates for employers in 2025-26.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

At Autumn Budget 2024 the Government set aside funding to support the public sector with the additional cost of employer National Insurance Contributions. The Government published allocations by department for 2025-26 alongside Main Estimates. This included support for local authorities through the Local Government allocation.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2025 to Question 71214 on Permanent Secretaries: Pay, if he will publish the salaries for the two roles that were approved; and what was the business case of the exceptional salaries.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Details of senior salaries are published in individual departmental Annual Reports and Accounts.

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