Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, pursuant to the answer of 29 June 2026 to Question 12169 on Business: Regulation, whether regulations stemming from EU legislation are in scope of the targets.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government's commitment to cut the administrative burden of regulation on business by 25% by the end of this Parliament covers central UK government regulation, as set out in the Technical Annex published in July 2026.
Consistent with the Standard Cost Model, regulations originating from EU or international obligations are within scope to the extent that they are implemented domestically.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the PCS press release entitled Valuation Office withdraws HVCTS Office Attendance communication, published on 24 August 2026, for what reason HMRC withdrew the Office Attendance communication; and what is the current office attendance expectation.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
In line with HMRC’s hybrid working policy, employees are expected to spend 60% of their working time in the office.
Where there is a clear business need, employees can be required to attend the office more than the standard 60%.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Cabinet Office policy statement, Rewiring the State – Cabinet Statement, of 31 July 2026, whether strategic authority mayors will be able to cut (a) income taxes, (b) business rates or (c) council tax, using the revenues from locally-retained central government taxes.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
The Government’s proposal will assign mayors a share of locally raised income tax and provide greater business rates retention. They will not give mayors powers to change the rates of income tax, business rates or council tax, which will continue to be set under the relevant existing arrangements.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the additional costs of security for the office of No10 North will be borne by Greater Manchester Police.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government does not disclose information on protective security at specific sites, including funding arrangements. This reflects a long-standing policy designed to protect the integrity and effectiveness of security measures, as the release of such information could increase vulnerabilities and compromise site security.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the answer of 16 December 2025 to Question 96684 on Tim Allan, whether Tim Allan was eligible in the future to exercise the share options set out in the 2024 Strand Partners company accounts lodged with Companies House.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
There is an established system in place for the declaration and management of special advisers' interests. As has been the case under successive administrations, interests deemed relevant for publication for special advisers in No10 and the Cabinet Office are published on an annual basis by the Cabinet Office. As set out in the answer referred to, before joining the government, Mr Allan sought and received advice on his interests. He followed the advice received.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, further to the publication of Cabinet Office Publication of Special Adviser Interests 2025-2026, on 16 July 2026, for what reason Tim Allan was not asked to dispose of her shareholdings in the four public affairs and public relations companies.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
There is an established system in place for the declaration and management of special advisers' interests. As has been the case under successive administrations, interests deemed relevant for publication for special advisers in No10 and the Cabinet Office are published on an annual basis by the Cabinet Office. As set out in the answer referred to, before joining the government, Mr Allan sought and received advice on his interests. He followed the advice received.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Cabinet Office, Briefing pack for the position of Director General, Propriety & Constitution, August 2026, page 3, for what reason there are three Deputy Directors for the Duty of Candour on the Cabinet Office organogram.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Duty of Candour Directorate contains three Deputy Directors. One is full-time, and the other two are part-time.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Morgan McSweeney was paid a severance payment when he left Crown Service.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
I refer the Rt Hon member to the answer of 5th June 2026, PQ 3299.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 30 June 2026, to Question 7481, on Cabinet Office: Lanyards, whether any expenditure has been undertaken on branded lanyards since the publication of her guidance on branded goods in April 2025.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Since the publication of guidance on branded goods in April 2025, Cabinet Office has not purchased any branded lanyards for promotional purposes. Lanyards purchased for operational purposes are not within the scope of the ban on branded goods.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much has been spent on hotel accommodation for No10 North staff, Ministers and special advisers since its opening.
Answered by Sally Jameson - Parliamentary Secretary and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government)
As staff have been surged from a number of departments, accommodation cost information is not centrally collated. Costs are being met within existing departmental budgets.