Oral Answers to Questions

Neil Shastri-Hurst Excerpts

Thursday 25th June 2026 Commons Chamber

[Anna Turley]

The hon. Gentleman makes a really important point. We have to get the balance right. We have many fantastic civil servants embedded in their communities and delivering for them, which is great, but I am sure that he will agree with me on the importance of the opportunity that civil service roles offer to stimulate growth in regions across our nations. I am sure that he would support that. I look forward to continuing this discussion with him.

[Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst (Solihull West and Shirley) (Con)]

9. What steps his Department is taking to improve cross-Government co-ordination on national resilience planning.

[The Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Dame Angela Eagle)]

We are driving a step change in national resilience through our resilience action plan. Central to that is our national security risk assessment, which embeds clear accountability for lead Government Departments across all risks. We are further enhancing this co-ordination by publishing updated guidance this year. That will ensure that every Department is fully equipped to deliver its responsibilities and works seamlessly across the resilience cycle to keep the country safe.

[Dr Shastri-Hurst]

Space has a crucial role to play in our national resilience. Responsibility for it cuts across Government Departments. With that in mind, and given the Cabinet Office’s role in cross-Government co-ordination, can the Minister confirm when the National Space Council will next convene?

[Mr Speaker]

Oh my word!

--- Later in debate ---

[Lincoln Jopp (Spelthorne) (Con)]

Double dip!

[Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst (Solihull West and Shirley) (Con)]

T2. Indeed—I am back by popular demand.Will the Minister set out what steps the Cabinet Office is taking to ensure that public appointments are made on merit alone and not based on political patronage or ideological principles?

[Darren Jones]

I could probably refer to quite a list of appointments under the previous Administration that did not meet that test. I reassure the hon. Gentleman that public appointments are made in line with independent panels, with proper evidence and citations. We continue to make reforms to the system to ensure that the brightest and best across the country help us to lead in the public sphere without being related to political conflicts, as he suggests.