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.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the "UK-EU SPS agreement – information for businesses" published on 12 August 2026, what discussions she has had with businesses on EU regulations on food packaging and packaging waste.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
EU legislation on food contact materials (materials used during production, storage, and serving) is within scope of the SPS agreement. The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is outside the agreement’s scope although negotiations continue. Defra and FSA are engaging closely with industry on technical changes required by the agreement.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether it is her Department's policy that British farms and food manufacturers will be obliged to follow EU farming and food regulations, following the SPS agreement, if the firms (a) do not trade with the EU and only trade within Britain and (b) export to outside the EU.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The SPS agreement with the EU means that Great Britain will apply certain rules in line with the EU. These arrangements will apply domestically, whether or not a business trades directly with the EU. This Government has published a list of EU legislation that it currently views as being in scope of the agreement. The precise scope of the agreement remains subject to ongoing negotiations with the EU. We will provide clear guidance to help all businesses understand and prepare for what's ahead.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Impact Assessment, Amending the Bread and Flour Regulations 1998, of 13 November 2024, page 3, how many times has the UK-wide monitoring group met to date in relation to the addition of synthetic folic acid to non-wholemeal flour.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The UK-wide monitoring group referred to in the published impact assessment (November 2024) has been replaced by a four-nations policy group. The group met four times in 2025 and continue to meet regularly to discuss ongoing plans to evaluate the impact of the policy for the fortification of flour with folic acid.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed overnight visitor levy on the activities of Scouts, Guides and other youth organisations.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The levy will apply to short-term, commercially let overnight accommodation. Decisions on whether to introduce a levy will be for strategic authorities, subject to local consultation. Strategic authorities will also have the option to exempt certain types of accommodation in their areas, such as tent pitches, touring caravan pitches and dormitory-style accommodation like hostels in their areas. This approach gives local leaders the tools to respond to local challenges and opportunities, including any affordability concerns.