Asked by: Peter Bedford (Conservative - Mid Leicestershire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to levy VAT on cosmetic surgical procedures.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services.
VAT is charged at the standard rate on all cosmetic procedures unless they are carried out by a health professional to protect, maintain or restore an individual’s health.
Cosmetic procedures to enhance a person’s appearance are subject to the standard rate of VAT. The VAT charged by the supplier can be reclaimed by the individual concerned if the services are for a business need, subject to the normal rules.
Therefore, most cosmetic procedures already attract standard rate VAT and no additional levy is needed.
Asked by: Peter Bedford (Conservative - Mid Leicestershire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many civil servants in their Department were found to have broken the Civil Service Code in (a) 2024 and (b) 2025.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The following table shows recorded disciplinary cases which were upheld and included breaches of the Civil Service Code, for 2024 and 2025:
Year of outcome | Number of these cases where the allegation included “Breaches of the Civil Service Code” |
2024 | <5 |
2025 | 6 |
Asked by: Peter Bedford (Conservative - Mid Leicestershire)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many departmental employees were on performance management plans in (a) 2023, (b) 2024 and (c) 2025.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is committed to thorough performance management and has in place robust processes to ensure that those who fall below the expected standards are supported to improve in a timely manner. To this end, there have been:
Less than 10 employees have been placed on a formal performance improvement plan in 2023/24, 16 in 2024/25, and 17 in 2025/26.
Those who cannot improve their performance, despite this additional support, may be dismissed.
Asked by: Peter Bedford (Conservative - Mid Leicestershire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many civil servants in their Department were found to have broken the Civil Service Code in (a) 2024 and (b) 2025.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In 2024 there were 8 disciplinary cases in the central Government Department that closed in that year and where the reason for the case was categorised specifically as ‘Breaches of the Civil Service Code’. Of these 8 cases, less than 5 resulted in Final Written warnings or First Written Warnings.
In 2025 there were 6 disciplinary cases in the central Government Department that closed in that year and where the reason for the case was categorised specifically as ‘Breaches of the Civil Service Code’. Of these 6 cases, less than 5 resulted in Dismissal or First Written Warnings.
Due to the small number of cases which have been identified in some outcomes, a further breakdown is withheld as it could lead to identification of individuals.
Asked by: Peter Bedford (Conservative - Mid Leicestershire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many departmental employees were on performance management plans in (a) 2023, (b) 2024 and (c) 2025.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Numbers on Performance Management Plans:
• 2024: Managing Poor Performance = 28, Performance Management = 2
• 2025: Managing Poor Performance = 20, Performance Management = 0
DESNZ was not created until February 2023, so figures are not available before this time.
Asked by: Peter Bedford (Conservative - Mid Leicestershire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many civil servants in their Department were found to have broken the Civil Service Code in (a) 2024 and (b) 2025.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Case numbers for individuals breaking the civil service code in 2024 were below 5. In line with section 40(2) of the FOI Act this figure is deemed too low to release due to risks of individuals being identified.
There were no cases in which DCMS civil servants had breached the civil service code in 2025.
Asked by: Peter Bedford (Conservative - Mid Leicestershire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many departmental employees were on performance management plans in (a) 2023, (b) 2024 and (c) 2025.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Performance Action Plans are an informal tool managed within the line management chain. Department for Transport therefore does not hold any central data on how many civil servants have a performance management plan in place.
Asked by: Peter Bedford (Conservative - Mid Leicestershire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many civil servants in their Department were found to have broken the Civil Service Code in (a) 2024 and (b) 2025.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Civil Servants are appointed on merit on the basis of fair and open competition and are expected to carry out their role with dedication and a commitment to the Civil Service and its core values: integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality.
We can confirm that the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and UK Export Finance (UKEF) hold the following information:
DBT
Year | No. Employees broke CS Code |
2024 | 7 |
2025 | <5* |
UKEF
Year | No. Employees broke CS Code |
2024 | 0 |
2025 | <5* |
*5 or less instances have been suppressed to ensure anonymity.
Asked by: Peter Bedford (Conservative - Mid Leicestershire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many civil servants in their Department were found to have broken the Civil Service Code in (a) 2024 and (b) 2025.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
There were
(a) Five or fewer* civil servants were found to have broken the Civil Service Code in 2024.
(b) Eight civil servants were found to have broken the Civil Service Code in 2025.
*Volumes which are five or fewer have been redacted to avoid potential identification of individuals.
Asked by: Peter Bedford (Conservative - Mid Leicestershire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many civil servants in their Department were found to have broken the Civil Service Code in (a) 2024 and (b) 2025.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence does not centrally record the number of civil servants who have been found to have broken the Civil Service Code and this information could only be provided at disproportionate cost. To determine the number who had, this would require a manual check of every misconduct case with the outcome of a sanction and every case that was upheld or partially upheld to check if the Civil Service Code had been broken.