Richard Holden Portrait

Richard Holden

Conservative - Basildon and Billericay

20 (0.0%) majority - 2024 General Election

First elected: 12th December 2019

Shadow Secretary of State for Transport

(since July 2025)

Opposition Whip (Commons)
8th Nov 2024 - 22nd Jul 2025
Shadow Paymaster General
8th Nov 2024 - 22nd Jul 2025
Procedure Committee
28th Oct 2024 - 30th Jun 2025
Product Regulation and Metrology Bill [HL]
13th May 2025 - 15th May 2025
Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
13th Nov 2023 - 5th Jul 2024
European Statutory Instruments Committee
2nd Mar 2020 - 30th May 2024
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
28th Oct 2022 - 13th Nov 2023
Seafarers' Wages Bill [HL]
11th Jan 2023 - 17th Jan 2023
Trade (Australia and New Zealand) Bill
4th Oct 2022 - 18th Oct 2022
Online Safety Bill
18th May 2022 - 28th Jun 2022
Public Accounts Committee
2nd Mar 2020 - 15th Mar 2022
Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Bill
5th Jan 2022 - 12th Jan 2022
Finance (No.2) Bill
8th Dec 2021 - 11th Jan 2022
Approved Premises (Substance Testing) Bill
8th Dec 2021 - 15th Dec 2021
Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill
7th Sep 2021 - 22nd Sep 2021
Select Committee on the Armed Forces Bill
25th Feb 2021 - 14th Apr 2021
Select Committee on the Armed Forces Bill
22nd Feb 2021 - 22nd Feb 2021
Armed Forces Bill Select Committee
22nd Feb 2021 - 22nd Feb 2021


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Richard Holden has voted in 259 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
View All Richard Holden Division Votes

Debates during the 2024 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Lindsay Hoyle (Speaker)
(15 debate interactions)
Bridget Phillipson (Labour)
Minister for Women and Equalities
(14 debate interactions)
Matthew Pennycook (Labour)
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
(10 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Cabinet Office
(43 debate contributions)
Department for Business and Trade
(33 debate contributions)
HM Treasury
(20 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
View all Richard Holden's debates

Basildon and Billericay Petitions

e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.

If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.

If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).

Petition Debates Contributed

I would like there to be another General Election.

I believe the current Labour Government have gone back on the promises they laid out in the lead up to the last election.


Latest EDMs signed by Richard Holden

13th October 2025
Richard Holden signed this EDM on Monday 13th October 2025

Agriculture

Tabled by: Victoria Atkins (Conservative - Louth and Horncastle)
That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, praying that the Heather and Grass etc. Burning (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 1000), dated 8 September 2025, a copy of which was laid before this House on 9 September, be annulled.
23 signatures
(Most recent: 22 Oct 2025)
Signatures by party:
Conservative: 21
Democratic Unionist Party: 2
10th September 2025
Richard Holden signed this EDM as a sponsor on Wednesday 10th September 2025

Conduct of Lord Mandelson

Tabled by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge)
That this House notes the concerning revelations regarding Lord Mandelson’s close friendship with the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein; expresses its concern at his lack of transparency regarding this relationship; requests for parliamentary time to be made available to debate this urgent matter; and calls for Lord Mandelson to resign as …
24 signatures
(Most recent: 13 Oct 2025)
Signatures by party:
Conservative: 19
Independent: 2
Democratic Unionist Party: 2
Traditional Unionist Voice: 1
View All Richard Holden's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Richard Holden, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.

MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.


Richard Holden has not been granted any Urgent Questions

1 Adjournment Debate led by Richard Holden

Friday 17th January 2025

4 Bills introduced by Richard Holden


A Bill to prohibit the marriage of first cousins; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Tuesday 10th December 2024
(Read Debate)
Next Event - 2nd Reading
Friday 31st October 2025

A Bill to require a seller of a vehicle to record their home address or specified information about a company that owns the vehicle in the vehicle’s registration document; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Tuesday 22nd October 2024
Next Event - 2nd Reading
Friday 31st October 2025

A Bill to make provision for the licensing of animal shelters; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Wednesday 11th June 2025
Next Event - 2nd Reading
Friday 31st October 2025

A Bill to prohibit virginity testing procedures; to make associated provision about education; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Tuesday 15th December 2020
(Read Debate)

Latest 50 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
27 Other Department Questions
10th Jul 2025
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she plans to respond to the report entitled Review of data, statistics and research on sex and gender - Report 2: Barriers to research on sex and gender, published on 2 July 2025.

On 19 March 2025 the Government published a report by Professor Alice Sullivan, following an independent review of data, statistics and research on sex and gender. This report was commissioned by the previous administration.

Professor Sullivan has subsequently self-published further research in this area relating to “barriers to research on sex and gender”.

The Office for Students (OfS) published regulatory advice on 19 June 2025, providing guidance to the higher education (HE) sector on how they should fulfil their free speech duties under the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 (the Act) and examples of how providers should fulfil their duties.

On 26 June 2025, the Minister for Women and Equalities published a policy paper on the future of the Act, setting out further details following the announcement on 15 January 2025. This paper sets in detail the duties and powers the OfS will be granted, when a legislative vehicle is secured, in order to regulate HE providers in relation to fulfilment of their free speech duties, and to put in place a complaints scheme to decide on free speech complaints from staff, external speakers and members of registered HE providers.

26th Jun 2025
To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, what the Church's policy is on the flying of flags from churches.

The Church of England has specific rules regarding the flying of flags from its buildings. These policies relate to exterior flagpoles, and the display and the laying up of military standards or regimental colours.

Policies and advice relating to the flying of flags or the laying up of flags can be found on the Church of England website, in the Resources section, under ‘ChurchCare’, and ‘Advice and guidance for church buildings’: https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/churchcare/advice-and-guidance-church-buildings/flags-and-military-colours

The Government issues its own guidance on flying flags, which also covers churches, and the Flag Institute offers guidance on when and how flags should be flown from churches and other buildings.

25th Jun 2025
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the transparency data entitled Cabinet Office: Government Procurement Card spend over £500 - December 2024, published on 30 January 2025, for what reason her Department spent £790.50 on 23 December 2024 with Karen Newby Ltd under the category of interpretation.

Following the British Sign Language (BSL) Act coming into force in April 2022, which legally recognises BSL as a language of England, Scotland and Wales, a non-statutory BSL Advisory Board of 17 predominantly BSL users was established to advise the Government on matters of importance to Deaf people and on the implementation of the BSL Act. This payment represents a fee for British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation services to support the smooth running and accessible communication for the quarterly BSL Advisory Board meeting that took place in person on 6 November 2024.

Stephen Timms
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
5th Jun 2025
To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether there is a limit on the number of ordinary written parliamentary questions that Rt hon. and hon. Members can table in hard copy on a sitting day.

There is no limit to the number of questions for ordinary written answer which a Member may table in hard copy on each sitting day (see Erskine May, 25th Edition, paragraph 22.4).

14th May 2025
To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 47830 on House of Commons: Morning Star, what estimate the Commission has made of the level of demand for copies of the Morning Star across the Parliamentary Estate.

The Commission does not monitor the use of the copies of the Morning Star or other newspapers provided across the Parliamentary Estate. They are made freely available for Members in the Library and communal areas and there is no means for recording their use.

7th May 2025
To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 44585 on Winston Churchill: Artworks, which Members’ offices removed the portrait of Churchill; and whether the decision was requested by the hon. Member.

Artworks are removed from offices during dissolution and the General Election to mitigate risk to the collection during this busy period and to ensure availability of suitable works to meet Member requests for office hangs upon their election.

Between June and October 2024, the Heritage Collections team moved over 1100 artworks to facilitate dissolution works and election changes. This included seven portraits of Churchill: four from offices of Members, or their staff, who were not returned at the election; two from Members who were returned at the election; and one for conservation. Those removals were not, therefore, requested by the Members who had previously been allocated those offices. One of those works has subsequently been requested for another Member’s office; the other five remain available for Members to request.

7th May 2025
To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 23 April 2025 to Question 44587 on Parliamentary Estates: Artworks, what the (a) nature, (b) title and (c) artist is of each item that was (i) installed and (ii) removed since (A) dissolution of the previous Parliament and (B) 4 July 2024.

The attached data provides detail of individual artworks falling under the following categories:

iA) artworks installed between dissolution and 4 July 2024 (40 artworks)

iiA) artworks removed between dissolution and 4 July 2024 (80 artworks)

iB) artworks installed since 4 July 2024 (185 artworks)

iiB) artworks removed since 4 July 2024 (375 artworks)

In collating this data, so far as possible we have included neither artworks which were temporarily removed to allow for maintenance works and have since been rehung in the same location, nor artworks which were briefly off display and then moved location with a Member’s office.

6th May 2025
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the Regulatory Policy Committee's publication Status of Post Implementation Reviews, published on 24 April 2025, for what reason the post-implementation review of the Equality Act 2010 (Gender Pay Gap Information) Regulations 2017 is outstanding.

The post-implementation review of the Equality Act 2010 (Gender Pay Gap Information) Regulations 2017 was published on 11th April 2023.

The post implementation review and supporting documents can be accessed here.

25th Apr 2025
To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 23 April 2025 to Question 44588 on Parliament: Television, whether any public bodies pay subscription fees to receive a direct television feed of the UK Parliament.

No public bodies pay a subscription fee to Parliament for a direct television feed.

24th Apr 2025
To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many copies of The Morning Star are purchased by the House of Commons each day.

The House of Commons purchases five copies of the Morning Star each day. These are made available in different locations around the Estate.

22nd Apr 2025
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, who the members are of the Race Equality Engagement Group; and how they were appointed.

On 18 March, I announced our plans to establish a Race Equality Engagement Group to help us develop measures to tackle race inequality. The Group will be chaired by Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon.

We are in the process of appointing the other members of the Group. Members are being recruited to bring a range of expertise from across the public, private and voluntary sectors and from across the country. These are informal ministerial appointments, by invitation, and are not within the scope of the Governance Code for Public Appointments.

Seema Malhotra
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
7th Apr 2025
To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, what guidance has been provided to hon. Members on whether they must declare the date that a political donation was (a) received by the linked recipient and (b) given by the ultimate donor.

This is not a matter for the House of Commons Commission.

The rules are set out in the Code of Conduct and the Guide to the Rules relating to the Conduct of Members, approved by the House on 12 December 2022 (HC 1083).

https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5803/cmcode/1083/1083-1.pdf

Members seeking advice on the registration of specific interests should contact the Registrar of Members’ Interests.

7th Apr 2025
To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2025 to Question 24487 on Members’ Interests, whether (a) gifts and (b) hospitality which are registered and then (i) returned and (ii) repaid remain on the published list of interests.

This is not a matter for the House of Commons Commission.

The rules are set out in the Code of Conduct and the Guide to the Rules relating to the Conduct of Members, approved by the House on 12 December 2022 (HC 1083).

https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5803/cmcode/1083/1083-1.pdf

Members seeking advice on the registration of specific interests should contact the Registrar of Members’ Interests.

7th Apr 2025
To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, what (a) portraits and (b) other artwork from the Parliamentary Art Collection that were previously on display have been moved to storage since (i) the dissolution of the last Parliament and (ii) 4 July 2024.

80 artworks moved from display to storage between dissolution (30 May 2024) and 4 July 2024, of which none were portraits. Since 4 July 2024, 405 artworks have moved to store, of which one was a portrait.

These changes have been for a number of reasons: movement of Members’ offices, required conservation work, or temporary storage due to maintenance projects. Many artworks in store are currently under consideration by Members for new office selections.

7th Apr 2025
To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, which public bodies have a live television feed to Parliament other than BBC Parliament; and what the annual cost is of such a subscription.

Other than BBC Parliament, there are no other live television feeds from public bodies to Parliament. Before migration to the internet over five years ago, the following channels from public bodies were available (in addition to BBC Parliament):

  • Northern Ireland Assembly
  • Scottish Parliament
  • Senedd Cymru/Welsh Parliament
  • European Parliament


UK Parliament’s sound and vision contractor provisioned the broadcast signals from these public bodies onto the Parliamentary Estate as part of their overall contract. It is not possible to separate out this cost from the overall contract.

7th Apr 2025
To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether any changes have been made to the display of (a) portraits and (b) busts of Winston Churchill on the Parliamentary estate since 4 July 2024.

Items from the Parliamentary Art Collection are on display in corridors, meeting and Committee rooms as well as private offices. Since 4 July 2024, no changes have been made to the display of busts of Winston Churchill on the Parliamentary estate. In the same timeframe, seven print or photographic portraits of Churchill have been taken off display. Six were taken off display from Members’ offices following changes to office locations and occupancy after the election, and one required conservation work.

The Parliamentary Art Collection contains 33 artworks either by or depicting Winston Churchill. 13 are currently on display in high-profile locations including Members’ Lobby, Committee Corridor and Ministerial offices. None of the works on display in those high-profile locations have been moved since 4 July 2024, other than briefly to facilitate project works.

3rd Apr 2025
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2024 to Question 8801 on Equality Act 2010, whether those plans include a public consultation with each public authority in legal scope of the new duty; and whether the New Burdens principle applies to local authority bodies subject to the new duty.

The Government is committed to commencing the socio-economic duty in the Equality Act 2010. The duty will require specified public bodies, when making strategic decisions, to consider actively how their decisions might help to reduce the inequalities associated with socio-economic disadvantage.

Public authorities will be able to reach their own decisions as to how they wish to approach reducing inequalities associated with socio-economic disadvantage.

We will work in partnership with public authorities, civil society and others in order to ensure that the implementation of the duty is as effective as possible. As part of this, we have included questions in relation to the socio-economic duty in a call for evidence on equality law, which was launched on 7 April and will be open until 30 June. This will enable public authorities and others to input into plans in relation to the socio-economic duty at an early stage. We will also consult on draft statutory guidance in order to ensure it addresses the needs of public bodies and civil society and supports effective implementation.

6th Feb 2025
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the guidance entitled Public Sector Equality Duty: guidance for public authorities, published on 18 December 2023, and pursuant to the letter from the Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Secretary of State for Business and Trade to economic regulators referenced in the Answer of 24 January 2024 to Question 24447 on Economic Growth: Regulation, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to ensure that regulators do not try to impose the public sector equality duty on private companies.

The Public Sector Equality Duty (the PSED) requires organisations in scope to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations between different people.

The scope of the PSED is set out in the Equality Act 2010 (the Act). It extends to all public authorities listed in Schedule 19 of the Act and all parties carrying out public functions. This includes private sector and voluntary organisations when carrying out public functions.

The government expects regulators to ensure organisations comply with their legal requirements. It is not the role of regulators to intervene where legal requirements do not apply and we have no evidence that this is occurring.

16th Jan 2025
To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, what guidance the House of Commons issues to hon. Members on declaring reportable gifts, donations or hospitality which are returned or reimbursed within 28 days of receipt; and whether reportable gifts, donations or hospitality which are returned or reimbursed after 28 days of receipt are recorded in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests.

Registration requirements are set out in the Code of Conduct together with the Guide to the Rules relating to the Conduct of Members, approved by the House on 12 December 2022. (https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5803/cmcode/1083/1083.pdf)

Paragraph 5 of the Code provides that new Members must register all their current financial interests, and any registrable benefits (other than earnings) received in the 12 months before their election within one month of their election, and Members must register any change in those registrable interests within 28 days. Gifts, donations or hospitality are registrable from the day of receipt (whether or not subsequently repaid). The 28-day period is provided to enable time for registration for the purpose of transparency.

Members are encouraged to seek advice from the Registrar of Members’ Financial Interests if they are in any doubt about whether a proposed course of action is in line with the rules.

3rd Jan 2025
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, pursuant to the Answer of 3 December 2024 to Question 16341 on Political Parties: Discrimination, if she will issue guidance on the distinction between philosophical and political belief.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has issued guidance and codes of practice covering philosophical belief. What is and is not a political belief as opposed to a philosophical belief is a question that is for individuals to consider and, if necessary, the courts to determine, if raised in the context of Equality Act 2010 protections.

3rd Jan 2025
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the Answer of 3 December 2024 to Question HL2771 on Civil Servants: Recruitment and pursuant to the Answer of 20 November 2024 to Question 14502 on Gender: Equality, if she will issue guidance to public bodies to stop the practice of internship programmes which restrict applications on the basis of race or ethnicity.

The Equality Act 2010 (The Act) provides protections for people from discrimination in the workplace and in society. It makes it unlawful to treat someone unfairly or discriminate against anyone based on certain personal characteristics. This includes race and ethnicity.

The Act also makes it unlawful for recruiters to hire by race, where the person is to be paid under a contract for services. Under certain conditions, a recruiter choosing between candidates of equal merit can hire the candidate from the more disadvantaged or lower-participating race or ethnicity. This is one type of ‘positive action’. Positive action can deliver better outcomes for particular groups in order to overcome or minimise a disadvantage arising from a protected characteristic.

In April 2023, the previous government published guidance to help employers understand the difference between positive action and positive discrimination. The guidance is available on gov.uk at www.gov.uk/government/publications/positive-action-in-the-workplace-guidance-for-employers. Section 9 of this guidance explains the general positive action provision. Section 10.2 explains tie-breaking in more detail. With this considered, there are currently no plans to issue further guidance to public bodies on positive action.

12th Dec 2024
To ask the Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, whether the Church plans to amend the Table of Kindred and Affinity to exclude first cousins from marriage.

The ‘Table of Kindred and Affinity’ is part of the Book of Common Prayer. The Book of Common Prayer can be changed by a Measure from the General Synod of the Church of England, which would come to Parliament for approval in the usual manner. The Church of England has no plans currently to change the text.

9th Dec 2024
To ask the Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, whether the Church of England has a formal process for the removal of an Archbishop.

The duration of appointments of office holders in the Church of England is governed by statutory provisions. Under section 3 of the Ecclesiastical Offices (Terms of Service) Measure 2009, the term of office of a person who holds office under Common Tenure (which includes archbishops, bishops and most other clergy) is terminated:
• on the death of the office holder
• by resignation
• on attaining the mandatory retirement age (subject to any extension)
• where the office ceases to exist
• where the office holder is removed from office under the Clergy Discipline Measure 2003
• on the expiry of a fixed term appointment (where applicable)
• under the capability procedures.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukcm/2009/1/contents

26th Nov 2024
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will hold discussions with the (a) Equality and Human Rights Commission and (b) the Cabinet Office on the potential merits of issuing guidance to political parties on whether they are able to discriminate on the basis of (i) political and (ii) philosophical belief.

It is for the Equality and Human Rights Commission to determine what guidance it issues to political parties. Equalities Ministers will have periodic discussions with their Cabinet Office colleagues on matters of mutual policy interest. 'Belief’ is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010, meaning any religious or philosophical belief, rather than political opinion. As such, the issue of guidance on political belief discrimination that purportedly related to the Equality Act’s protected characteristics would be misleading.

14th Nov 2024
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what role the Office for Equality and Opportunity has in informing Government policy on marriage.

The Office for Equality and Opportunity’s role in informing Government policy on marriage relates to equality and discrimination, as it is responsible for the protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010, which include marriage and civil partnership.

While the Office for Equality and Opportunity work with the Ministry of Justice on issues relating to equality, the Ministry of Justice is responsible for marriage law.

12th Nov 2024
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what the cost was of re-branding the Equality Hub as the Office for Equality and Opportunity.

Minimal costs were incurred in the rebranding of the Equality Hub to the Office of Equality and Opportunity as it was a renaming exercise rather than a Machinery of Government change. Therefore, there has been no programme or digital expenditure to date and only minimal administrative time by current employees.

16th Jul 2025
To ask the Solicitor General, what guidance has been posted on the Government Legal Service intranet since July 2024.

The Government Legal Service no longer exists and has been replaced by the Government Legal Profession (GLP).

The GLP produces guidance to assist government lawyers as they work closely with ministers, policy makers and other professionals.

Lawyers across government have an important role in helping the Government deliver its manifesto and run effective public services.

Since July 2024, the following guidance has been published on the GLP intranet:

17/10/2024
Working with Legislation - Westlaw Edge UK

11/2024
Attorney General’s Guidance on Legal Risk

02/2025
Knowledge Sharing Across the GLP
Legal Professional Privilege
Being an Effective Government lawyer

12/02/2025
Legal Professional Privilege Guidance - Sharing Advice Across the GLP

20/05/2025
New legal awareness slides on producing Statutory Instruments

Lucy Rigby
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
10th Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Office for National Statistics classifies rolling stock leasing liabilities as part of the public sector balance sheet.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 10th October is attached.

Josh Simons
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
10th Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to expand the range of defibrillator manufacturers and suppliers available through Government procurement frameworks.

The Cabinet Office does not currently offer a commercial agreement for defibrillators. CCS (an agency of the Cabinet Office) agreements do not cover medical devices; departments procure these through their own routes. NHS Supply Chain operates a commercial agreement for defibrillation devices and related services and accessories for use by approved organisations.

The Procurement Act 2023, introduced in February 2025, opens up frameworks to give greater flexibility to both buyers and suppliers, and provide more opportunity for innovation.

Chris Ward
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
10th Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of the merger of Anglo American and Teck on national security.

The Government has powers under the National Security and Investment (NSI) Act 2021 to review and, where required, intervene in investments that may pose a risk to national security.

The NSI Act both facilitates investment into sensitive sectors with appropriate safeguards where needed, and provides powers to act in the interests of national security where necessary and proportionate.

Given national security and commercial considerations, the Government will not generally comment on specific acquisitions or the potential applicability of the NSI Act 2021.

Acquisitions considered under the NSI Act are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and the Government will not hesitate to use its powers where necessary.

Dan Jarvis
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
9th Sep 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 4 September 2025 to Question 71219 on Lobbying: Official Hospitality, if she will publish the relevant guidance on holding departmental receptions at the offices of consultant lobbying firms.

The Ministerial Code is published on GOV.UK. Guidance from the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists is published on the Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists’ website.

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
2nd Sep 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many child deaths were recorded where parental consanguinity was (a) identified and (b) not identified in England in each year since 2019.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon Gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 2nd September is attached.

Josh Simons
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason page 38 of the document entitled Government Function: People, Continuous Improvement Assessment Framework, updated on 30 June 2025, refers to gender rather than sex.

The document entitled Government Function: People, Continuous Improvement Assessment Framework uses the term gender on the basis that this refers to the legally required business publication of Gender Pay Gap reporting as per the Equality Act 2010.

Georgia Gould
Minister of State (Education)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 14 July 2025 to Question 66291 on House of Lords Appointments Commission, for what reason members of the Commission have not been appointed.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer to Question 66291, which sets out when the campaign was launched and subsequently closed to applications.

The Government announced on 19 August 2025 that, as a result of the campaign, Professor Adeeba Malik CBE DL had been appointed as an independent member of the House of Lords Appointments Commission with effect from 1 September 2025. All candidates who applied as part of this campaign have been notified of the outcome accordingly.

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 26 June 2025 to Question 62083 on House of Lords Appointments Commission, on what date the public appointments process opened; whether it has been extended; and whether any people who applied have been informed that they have not been appointed.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer to Question 66291, which sets out when the campaign was launched and subsequently closed to applications.

The Government announced on 19 August 2025 that, as a result of the campaign, Professor Adeeba Malik CBE DL had been appointed as an independent member of the House of Lords Appointments Commission with effect from 1 September 2025. All candidates who applied as part of this campaign have been notified of the outcome accordingly.

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the press release of the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament of 1 May 2025, and pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2025 to Question 54011 on Intelligence and Security Committee, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department’s policies of the Committee's representation to the Government that safeguards against conflicts of interest have now been comprehensively dismantled.

Established processes are in place to monitor and manage actual and perceived conflicts of interest.

29th Aug 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what guidance his Department provides on holding departmental receptions at the offices of consultant lobbying firms.

The Ministerial Code sets out guidance for Ministers on engaging with external stakeholders.

Separate guidance relating to the regulation of consultant lobbying is published by the Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists.

29th Aug 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason the Cabinet Secretary has delegated his attendance to the Main Honours Committee.

The Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service is responsible for the operation of the honours system, but as is customary, delegates this responsibility to another senior Permanent Secretary.

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 8 July 2025 to Question HL8627 on Cabinet Office: Managers, which business units the 540 staff leaving are from.

The 540 refers to the number of applications that were approved and is subject to the individual's final acceptance.

The voluntary exit process has not yet concluded, so we are unable to report on which business units individuals will be leaving from.

Georgia Gould
Minister of State (Education)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 30 May 2025 to Question 53201 on Cabinet Office: Building, what major repairs are required to bring the building back into use.

36 Whitehall requires major repairs and refurbishment to bring back into use and is being actively considered as part of the plans for London's government office estate.

Georgia Gould
Minister of State (Education)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 7 July 2025 to Question 63329 on Cabinet Office: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution, what the (a) title and (b) purpose of that training was.

The title of the training course was Team Facilitated Conversations.

The purpose of the training was for the individual to gain the necessary skills and processes to resolve team conflicts across various sectors.

Georgia Gould
Minister of State (Education)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 14 July 2025 to Question 65153 on Government Communications Service: Reviews, whether the Director of Government Communications is being recruited externally through open and fair competition; and what the salary range is.

The selection process for this role was open and fair competition, overseen by the independent Civil Service Commission, chaired by the First Civil Service Commissioner. The salary range is £170,000 – £200,000.

Georgia Gould
Minister of State (Education)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 16 July 2025 to Question 65879 on Ethics and Integrity Commission: Correspondence, if he will publish correspondence from external organisations on the Ethics and Integrity Commission received since 4 July 2024.

The Cabinet Office does not routinely publish public correspondence.

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 8 July 2025 to Question 64832 on King Charles III: Artworks, if he will provide a hyperlink to the breakdown of the take up for (a) UK Government departments and (b) arm's-length bodies on gov.uk.

His Majesty The King’s free Portrait Scheme was a voluntary programme offering a free, framed portrait of The King to any eligible public institution that requested one.

Following the conclusion of the scheme, a breakdown of the take up including UK Government departments and Arms Length Bodies, wider public authorities and other eligible institutions can be found at www.gov.uk/government/news/conclusion-of-his-majesty-the-kings-free-portrait-scheme

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 14 July 2025 to Question 66650 on Industrial Disputes, what guidance his Department provides on undertaking Ministerial duties in 70 Whitehall during periods of strike action by (a) staff and (b) contractors who work in 70 Whitehall.

No such guidance has been issued by the Cabinet Office.

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the (a) UK Statistics Authority and (b) Office for National Statistics has a remit over the Government’s statistical (i) classification and (ii) reporting of (A) defence spending and (B) security and resilience spending, in the context of the new 5% NATO targets.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 29th August is attached.

Josh Simons
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 10 July 2025 to Question 64568 on Data, Statistics and Research on Sex and Gender Independent Review, what the planned timetable is for the UK Statistics Authority to respond substantively to Part (a) 1 and (b) 2 of the review.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 29th August is attached.

Josh Simons
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 25 June 2025 to Question 58669 on Cabinet Office: Lanyards, what was the (a) artwork and (b) branding on the 6,376 lanyards purchased for £5,069.99.

As was the case under the previous administration, the Cabinet Office issues standard Cabinet Office branded lanyards to staff as a default.

On 6 April, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster announced a ban on unnecessary branded merchandise. Whilst it was agreed that some expenditure on merchandise items is necessary for operational purposes (for example, security lanyards), all of these orders were made prior to this government’s ban on unnecessary branded merchandise.

The (a) artwork and (b) branding for the 6,376 lanyards purchased prior to this ban, stated in Question 58669, is as follows:

  • ‘reflex blue plain stock’ lanyards

  • blue lanyards with the Cabinet Office crest and the words "College for National Security" printed on them.

  • plain purple lanyards, with the Cabinet Office crest and "FS Conference 2024 Committee" printed on them

  • lanyards featuring a blue style with white print displaying "Crown Commercial Service" and the Crown logo, with metal hooks for attaching passes

  • “Phase 2 Grenfell Tower Inquiry” with lanyards with Team Member printed in black and 2 colour logo to face

  • “Government Project Delivery” lanyards printed in full colour to both sides

  • “Cabinet Office Digital” lanyards printed in full colour to both sides

  • "100 Year Partnership between Ukraine and the UK" lanyards printed with four colour logo

Chris Ward
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)