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 19 March 2025, to Question 37432, on Prime Minister: Communication, how many FTE Civil Servants now work in the overall communications team in the Office of the Prime Minister; and of those, how many work on digital communications; and at what cost.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
As of 01 September, there were 47 FTE Civil Servants in the overall communications team, covering a range of disciplines including digital, strategic planning, photography, and press office. Staffing costs and figures are regularly published as part of the Cabinet Office’s Organogram, available on gov.uk.
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 Annual Publication of Relevant Special Adviser Interest, published on 16 July 2026, if she will list each of the specific mitigations that were agreed for Varun Chandra and the associated organisation it relates to.
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.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many communications staff currently work in the Office for the Prime Minister and Cabinet, as (a) FTE and (b) headcount.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
As of 01 September, there were 47 FTE Civil Servants in the overall communications team, covering a range of disciplines including digital, strategic planning, photography, and press office. Staffing costs and figures are regularly published as part of the Cabinet Office’s Organogram, available on gov.uk.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the House of Lords Appointments Commission has provided guidance to (a) the Cabinet Office and (b) 10 Downing Street on the period of time that should be given to the Commission to allow it to undertake due diligence on (i) political list and (ii) resignation peerage list peerage appointments.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Information regarding the vetting process undertaken by the independent House of Lords Appointment Commission is available on their website.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many photographers are employed by the Office of the Prime Minister.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
As of 01 September, there were 47 FTE Civil Servants in the overall communications team, covering a range of disciplines including digital, strategic planning, photography, and press office. Staffing costs and figures are regularly published as part of the Cabinet Office’s Organogram, available on gov.uk.
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 HM Treasury, Defence Investment Plan Funding explainer, published on 30 June 2026, what programmes will be reduced to finance the reduced departmental capital budget in the Cabinet Office; and what is the monetary value of the reduction.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
To deliver the Defence Investment Plan Cabinet Office’s capital budgets will reduce by 1% each year from 2026/27 to 2029/30. For the current financial year this equates to £6m.
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 Review into the Organisation, Performance and Transformation of the Permanent Civil Service, published on 1 July 2026, whether the names, biographies and declarations of interests of members of the external expert advisory panel will be published before they commence their work.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Cabinet Secretary has agreed with the Prime Minister that she will lead a review into the organisation, performance and transformation of the permanent Civil Service, with the aim of setting out a vision for its future as a world class institution serving the duly elected government of the day, building on its existing strengths. An external expert advisory panel will be constituted to inform the review.
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 publication, Expenditure Over £25,000 - July 2026 (Cabinet Office Core), 27 August 2026, what was the event, work activity and topic relating to the transaction, Communications External Events, One Two Agency Limited, Ref: SINV-000032795, for £56,638.58.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The transaction of £56,638.58 to One Two Agency Limited (reference SINV-000032795) relates to the Government Commercial Agency’s participation in the Local Government Association (LGA) Annual Conference.
The expenditure covered the design, construction, and technical provision for the exhibition stand. Participation aimed to support direct engagement and build strategic relationships with local government stakeholders, with a specific focus on devolution priorities.
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 17 July 2026 to Question 17754 on Government Departments: Industrial Disputes, what industrial disputes are currently live, and over what grievances, in relation to the (a) Cabinet Office and (b) Office for National Statistics.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Cabinet Office currently has one registered formal trade dispute regarding pay, raised by Unite the Union on behalf of its members who work in the Government Car Service. As far as the Cabinet Office is aware, Unite the Union has not yet balloted its members for industrial action.
There are no industrial disputes currently live at the Office for National Statistics.
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 28 August 2026 to Question 18042 on Freedom of Information, if she will place in the Library a copy of the most recent FOI round robin guidance issued by the Cabinet Office to departments on the handling of specific live round robin FOI requests.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
I refer the Member to the previous answer to PQ 20662. The Cabinet Office will not be placing the most recent copy of the list in the Library as it would likely prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs by inhibiting the free and frank provision of advice.