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 2 February 2026 to Question 108237 on Trade unions, what the recognition of the FDA entails; whether the FDA is consulted on (a) exit payments and (b) pay rises for special advisers; and whether there is facility time for special advisers’ union representation.
Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Cabinet Office recognises the FDA for collective bargaining on the terms of the annual pay award for special advisers. The Cabinet Office does not consult the FDA on individual pay rises or exit payments for special advisers.
There is no facility time agreement in place specifically for special advisers, but any arrangements would follow the Cabinet Office’s centrally issued facility time framework.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish Cabinet Office Freedom of Information Act response, reference FOI2026/04975, dated 13 April 2026.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Responses to Freedom of Information requests are considered to be public. The requester can share the response if they so wish.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the proposed annual budget and headcount is for the Government Media Unit in the 2026-2027 financial year.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Cabinet Office is currently finalising the operational requirements of the Government Media Unit.
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 2 March 2026 to Question 113919 on Equality: Gender and Intersex, what the timetable is for the Gender Identity and Intersex Policy Package review following the publication of the Equality Act 2010: Draft Code of Practice for services, public functions and associations.
Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
New model Policy and Guidance: Supporting Trans and Non-binary Employees was issued to departments on 22 May 2026. These may be used by departments as templates for their own departmental guidance.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether any Government Property Agency dwellings have been identified as not correctly paying council tax since April 2025.
Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
All council taxes invoices have been correctly paid where received for Government Property Agency dwellings.
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 23 April 2026 to Question 124822 on Proof of Identity: Digital Technology, for what reason the People's Panel participants will need to stay in a hotel overnight; if there will be multiple locations or sessions, and what is the timetable.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The People's Panel on Digital ID brings together a diverse group of 120 individuals from across the United Kingdom, selected through a random postcode sortition process to be broadly representative. The Panel will convene over seven workshops, four of which are held in person in Birmingham over two weekends therefore requiring participants to stay overnight. The deliberative workshops are taking place throughout May and June 2026.
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 23 April 2026 to Question 124822 on Proof of Identity: Digital Technology, how much will participants of the People’s Panel be paid in terms of (a) expenses and (b) direct payment.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Participants of the People’s Panel are paid to recognise the time they are giving up to take part. Payments are aligned to each workshop they attend, so may vary depending on attendance, and include expenses such as travel, meals and accommodation and any additional caring requirements (if needed).
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Lord Mandelson, whilst Ambassador, was given permission to undertake any private work or second employment.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Civil servants are required to adhere to the Civil Service Code and the terms and conditions of their employment, including requirements relating to outside interests and external employment. Any such activity must be formally approved and must not conflict with an individual's official duties. In line with long-standing practice, the Government does not comment on the detail of individual personnel matters.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Lord Mandelson’s personal information, in as far as it relates to his appointment and vetting, is in scope of the Government response to the Humble Address; and what is the definition of personal information.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
I refer the Hon Member to the Government’s statement and release of information on 1st June and the debate of 3rd June, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. As the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister confirmed to the House, the vetting summary and recommendation was shared with the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) as part of the response to the Humble Address.
The Volume II publication outlined the definition of personal information and the Government's approach to fulfilling the Humble Address.
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 10 April 2026 to Question 123213 on Peers: Recruitment, whether a mandatory retirement age will be applied to direct ministerial appointments.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Direct ministerial appointees are public office holders and are therefore not employees. Their terms of engagement make clear that there is no construed contract of employment between an appointee and their appointing body. As such, typical conditions and entitlements under employment law, such as those around formal retirement, do not apply to public office holders.
Direct ministerial appointments are also generally short-term and non-recurring in nature. When making such appointments, ministers will take into account the suitability of prospective appointees to meet the criteria for the role and their ability to fulfil the role’s duties. Direct ministerial appointments are made entirely at the discretion of ministers, who may terminate such appointments at any time with or without notice.