Asked by: Richard Burgon (Labour - Leeds East)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the Cabinet Office policy is on the backup and retention of messages on official mobile devices.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
Civil Servants and ministers are required to follow the Non-Corporate Communications Channels (NCCCs) Guidance when using WhatsApp or similar messaging systems on their mobile device. This can be found on gov.uk.
Asked by: Richard Burgon (Labour - Leeds East)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the comments of the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on LBC on 22 March 2026, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the theft of the Prime Minister’s former Chief of Staff’s mobile phone on national security.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Government takes matters of national security very seriously, including cyber security, and has robust procedures in place to prevent the loss of sensitive information. However, the Government does not routinely comment on the specifics on matters relating to national security.
Asked by: Richard Burgon (Labour - Leeds East)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the comments of the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on LBC on 22 March 2026, on what date the Prime Minister’s former Chief of Staff reported the theft of his mobile phone to the Cabinet Secretary.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The former Chief of Staff’s phone was stolen, and he reported it at the time to the police and relevant teams in No10. This was before the Humble Address that was passed in February. The Government is committed to complying with the Humble Address in full, while continuing to support the Metropolitan Police with their investigation. I refer the Hon Member to the statement provided by the Metropolitan Police on 25 March and publication of the transcript confirming that the theft was reported.
Asked by: Richard Burgon (Labour - Leeds East)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the comments of the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on LBC on 22 March 2026, whether his Department has been notified of a crime reference number for the theft of the Prime Minister’s former Chief of Staff’s mobile phone.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The former Chief of Staff’s phone was stolen, and he reported it at the time to the police and relevant teams in No10. This was before the Humble Address that was passed in February. The Government is committed to complying with the Humble Address in full, while continuing to support the Metropolitan Police with their investigation. I refer the Hon Member to the statement provided by the Metropolitan Police on 25 March and publication of the transcript confirming that the theft was reported.
Asked by: Richard Burgon (Labour - Leeds East)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his Department's policy is on staff reporting the (a) loss and (b) theft of mobile devices; and whether that policy was followed for the theft of the Prime Minister's former Chief of Staff's mobile phone.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The former Chief of Staff’s phone was stolen, and he reported it at the time to the police and relevant teams in No10. This was before the Humble Address that was passed in February. The Government is committed to complying with the Humble Address in full, while continuing to support the Metropolitan Police with their investigation. I refer the Hon Member to the statement provided by the Metropolitan Police on 25 March and publication of the transcript confirming that the theft was reported.
Asked by: Richard Burgon (Labour - Leeds East)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Prime Minister’s former Chief of Staff reported the theft of his mobile phone to the Cabinet Secretary.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The former Chief of Staff’s phone was stolen, and he reported it at the time to the police and relevant teams in No10. This was before the Humble Address that was passed in February. The Government is committed to complying with the Humble Address in full, while continuing to support the Metropolitan Police with their investigation. I refer the Hon Member to the statement provided by the Metropolitan Police on 25 March and publication of the transcript confirming that the theft was reported.
Asked by: Richard Burgon (Labour - Leeds East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what is her most recent estimate of (1) the Resource Accounting and Budgeting charge and (2) the estimated cost to Government of support for the student finance system, based on future loan write-offs and interest subsidies, (a) in net present-value terms, and (b) as a proportion of the initial loan outlay.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The Resource Accounting and Budgeting (RAB) charge, the government subsidy anticipated on student loans issued in any particular financial year, is calculated as the present value of student loan outlay less expected future repayments. This is in accordance with relevant International Financial Reporting Standards and guidance from HM Treasury’s's Government Financial Reporting Manual.
In the 2024/25 financial year, the RAB charge was £6.2 billion, or 29.6% of the £20.7 billion of the student loans issued.
Asked by: Richard Burgon (Labour - Leeds East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Government will publish a list of any civilian deaths that result from US military strikes that have used UK military bases following the Prime Minister’s announcement on 1 March.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The agreement allowing the US to use UK miliary bases is for specific and limited defensive action against missile facilities in Iran which were involved in launching strikes at regional allies. For operational security reasons, we do not offer comment or information relating to foreign nations' military operations.
Asked by: Richard Burgon (Labour - Leeds East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether each individual use of UK military bases by US forces will be subject to a UK Government assessment to ensure that the action is consistent with international law following the Prime Minister’s announcement on 1 March with regards to Iran.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
Permissions to utilise UK military bases by foreign nations are considered on a case-by-case basis. All UK support to allies for operational purposes considers the legal basis and policy rationale for any proposed activity.
The agreement allowing the US to use UK miliary bases is for specific and limited defensive action against missile facilities in Iran which are involved in launching strikes at regional allies.
Asked by: Richard Burgon (Labour - Leeds East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the UK Government will have the ability to approve or refuse individual targets before the United States conducts strikes from UK military bases in Iran, following the Prime Minister’s announcement on 1 March.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The agreement allowing the US to use UK miliary bases is for specific and limited defensive action against missile facilities in Iran which were involved in launching strikes at regional allies. For operational security reasons, we do not offer comment or information relating to foreign nations' military operations.