Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2024, to Question 11648, on FCDO: Cultural Heritage, whether the Government Art Collection holds a record of each artwork in each (a) Embassy, (b) High Commission and (c) Residence.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

Artworks and their locations can be searched for on the Government Art Collection website.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 28503 on USA: Diplomatic Service, if he will publish that guidance on publication of declarations of interest.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Cabinet Office guidance outlines the process for declaring and resolving conflicts of interest for Senior Civil Servants. The guidance can be found on Gov.uk.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory is taking steps to protect the expression of gender-critical views within that organisation.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) is fully committed to being a place of work where people can be themselves, feel included and where all voices are heard. Dstl values and embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities in all its employment practices, and this forms an integral part of the way people in Dstl work and behave.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what artworks owned by (a) the Government Art Collection and (b) her Department have been removed from public display from her Department's offices since 5 July 2024.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government Art Collection is a working collection, used across government buildings in the UK and the global estate, which means that artworks may change their display location from time to time in response to new display steers and requests.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 23 October 2024 to Question HL1472 on Government Department: Directors, whether the (a) No10 Appointments Unit and (b) Cabinet Office Appointments Team hold information on the number of (i) non-executive and (ii) other public appointment posts that have become available before the expiry of their set term since 4 July 2024.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Cabinet Office does not hold this information.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has allocated funding to Client Earth since 4 July 2024.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Based on review of available data held centrally, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has not allocated any funds to Client Earth since July 2024.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2025 to Question 39687 on Government Departments: Aviation, whether Ministers’ travel on helicopters will be (a) published in quarterly travel returns and (b) listed in each Department’s spending data (i) in aggregate and (ii) individually.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

As was the case under the previous administration, data on ministers’ travel is published on a quarterly basis which includes defining the mode of transport used. This can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ministers-transparency-publications#2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the publication entitled Data on responses to correspondence from MPs and Peers, updated in May 2024, what statistics are collated on departmental timeliness to responding to correspondence from people and organisations other than Parliamentarians.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Cabinet Office currently publishes performance data on departmental timeliness in responding to Parliamentarians only.

While the report on responding to MPs and Peers is published annually, the data is broken down in the report on a quarterly basis.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the publication entitled Data on responses to correspondence from MPs and Peers, updated in May 2024, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of publishing this data quarterly.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Cabinet Office currently publishes performance data on departmental timeliness in responding to Parliamentarians only.

While the report on responding to MPs and Peers is published annually, the data is broken down in the report on a quarterly basis.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether (a) Ministers and (b) special advisers from her Department (i) met and (ii) took hospitality from senior executives from TikTok at the Labour Party Conference in 2024.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Both Ministers and special advisers are required to regularly publish information on the meetings that they have taken and the hospitality that they have received. These publications can be found on gov.uk.

Question

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.

Answered by Nick Smith

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.

Question

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.

Answered by Nick Smith

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.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much funding for local stop smoking services was allocated to swap to stop schemes in (a) 2023 and (b) 2024; and how much funding for local stop smoking services his Department plans to allocate to swap to stop schemes in (i) 2025 and (ii) 2026.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Swap to Stop scheme provides local services with vape starter kits to support smokers to quit, alongside behavioural support. The Swap to Stop scheme was launched in November 2023, and has provided local services with vape starter kits to the value of £3.2 million in 2023/24 and £17 million in 2024/25. This funding is ringfenced and is supplementary to the additional £70 million of ringfenced funding for Local Stop Smoking Services, along with existing funding through the Public Health Grant.

The extension of the Swap to Stop scheme for the coming year, 2025/26, was recently announced, with up to £19 million of funding available. Future settlements for this programme are being considered as part of the Spending Review.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to extend the swap to stop scheme for smoking cessation; and whether he plans to allocate ring-fenced funding for a future extension of that scheme.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Swap to Stop scheme provides local services with vape starter kits to support smokers to quit, alongside behavioural support. The Swap to Stop scheme was launched in November 2023, and has provided local services with vape starter kits to the value of £3.2 million in 2023/24 and £17 million in 2024/25. This funding is ringfenced and is supplementary to the additional £70 million of ringfenced funding for Local Stop Smoking Services, along with existing funding through the Public Health Grant.

The extension of the Swap to Stop scheme for the coming year, 2025/26, was recently announced, with up to £19 million of funding available. Future settlements for this programme are being considered as part of the Spending Review.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2024 to Question 7760 on Marian Mazzucato, whether she is an adviser to the Government in any other capacity.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Ministers regularly liaise with a wide range of stakeholders. Mariana Mazzucato is not employed within government as a special adviser. Nor does she hold a position in a role as a regulated public appointee.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will take steps to undertake an audit of whether other Government departments are meeting the publication requirements outlined in the then Prime Minister's letter entitled Government transparency and open data, published on 14 December 2017.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

I refer the honourable member to my response to PQ 30681.

Question

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.

Answered by Nia Griffith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Wales Office)

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.

Question

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.

Answered by Nick Smith

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.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2024 to Question 11266 on UK Special Representative for Climate Change, what the declaration of interest is that has been made by the Special Representative; and what steps his Department has taken to reduce any associated conflict of interest.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Special Representative for Climate Change submitted a Declaration of Interests Form as per the standard procedure for an appointment of this sort. Provisions in her terms of engagement on conduct in office include mechanisms to address any conflict of interest should it arise.

Question

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.

Answered by Nick Smith

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.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the section entitled Gender or sex in the Gov.uk Design System, if he will make it his policy to require the Government Digital Service to use sex rather than gender when requesting information on sex.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The GOV.UK Design System provides guidance and components to departments, so that there is a consistent style and experience for users interacting with government information and services online. This guidance is continually iterated with input from external experts and specialists across government, to help ensure that digital services are inclusive, easy to use and comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty. Following the recent Supreme Court ruling in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers, we will review the Design System’s guidance in line with any changes to the Codes of Practice issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, for what reason the Gov.uk Design System section entitled Ask Users for Equality Information refers to gender identity rather than gender reassignment.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The GOV.UK Design System provides guidance and components to departments, so that there is a consistent style and experience for users interacting with government information and services online. This guidance is continually iterated with input from external experts and specialists across government, to help ensure that digital services are inclusive, easy to use and comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty. Following the recent Supreme Court ruling in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers, we will review the Design System’s guidance in line with any changes to the Codes of Practice issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Spring Statement 2025 on 26 March 2025, whether changes have been made to the Government’s missions’ (a) metrics and (b) methodology.

Answered by Ellie Reeves - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

The Plan for Change set out clear and transparent milestones, and our plan to achieve them. These milestones allow the public to track our progress and hold the government to account for their delivery. There have been no changes to these milestones since the publication of the Plan for Change.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether allegations of bullying under paragraph 1.5 of the Ministerial Code are assessed by the impact of behaviour on individuals; whether an absence of awareness of any harm caused is a relevant factor in determining whether a breach has occurred; and whether the Government has a definition of bullying for the purposes of interpreting the Code.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

I refer the Hon Member to PQ43119.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what guidance his Department has issued on whether the requirement to record informal lobbying approaches applies to special advisers.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The expectations surrounding the conduct of special advisers are outlined in the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers. No additional guidance has been issued by the Department to special advisers concerning the requirement to record informal lobbying approaches.

Question

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.

Answered by Nick Smith

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.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department provided helicopter journeys for Ministers from other Departments between 4 July 2024 and 31 December 2024.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

No Command Support Air Transport helicopter flights were provided to Ministers from other Departments between 4 July 2024 and 31 December 2024.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 26 February 2025 to Question HL5029 on Stonewall: Arms Length Bodies and Government Departments, whether he plans to allocate funding to Stonewall after 2025-26.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's (FCDO) LGBT+ rights programme, which started in 2013, aims to transform the lives of millions of LGBT+ people around the world. This is done by tackling systematic violence, persecution, and exclusion by addressing outdated discriminatory laws, promoting protective legislation, empowering civil society organisations, and supporting the most vulnerable LGBT+ people in conflict and crisis. As part of this programme, the FCDO partners with Stonewall, with two agreements in place until March 2028. Official Development Assistance (ODA) allocations and the impact on programmes are being worked through following the decision to reduce UK ODA from 0.5 per cent of gross national income to 0.3 per cent in 2027. We will set out our spending plans following the completion of the spending review.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2025 to Question 39591 on Crown Commercial Service and Government Property Agency: Equality, which diversity and inclusion (a) days and (b) weeks have been recognised by (i) Government Property Agency and (ii) the Crown Commercial Service since 4 July 2024.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

I refer the honourable member to the answer given on 2 April 2025 in response to question 41107.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2025 to Question 37428 on Government Departments: Disclosure of Information, if he will ask the Government Digital Service to develop a website database allowing (a) cumulative and (b) cross-Government transparency data to be (i) searched and (ii) exported.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Government integrity data is already published in a format which can be exported. The government publishes this data in CSV files in an accessible open data format, as per the standard and best practice guidance from the Government Digital Service and Central Digital and Data Office. In addition, since January, data on ministers’ gifts and hospitality has been published in one central register.

The government does not have current plans to make any further changes to how this data is published.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason agendas for National Security Council meetings are not available to the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

It remains longstanding precedent that information relating to discussions that have taken place in Cabinet and its sub-committees, including agendas, are not disclosed. This Government is committed to providing spaces for Ministers to debate freely and frankly in private. This convention applies to engagement with Parliament and Select Committees and the Government routinely rejects requests for this information from other Select Committees. Therefore, whilst this Government is actively pursuing greater transparency with Parliament, this principle of non-disclosure continues to cover this matter.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to review the civil resilience of Heathrow airport.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

UK aviation operates in the private sector. Therefore, the resilience and contingency plans in place are the responsibility of the industry. However, we recognise the importance of aviation to critical national infrastructure, and our ability to travel and do business.

The Energy Secretary has commissioned an urgent investigation which will help to build a clear picture of the circumstances surrounding the recent incident at Heathrow, and the UK’s energy resilience more broadly, so that it’s prevented from ever happening again.

Heathrow Airport has also announced an internal review by Ruth Kelly, former Transport Secretary and an independent member of Heathrow's board. This review will be presented to Heathrow’s board in May.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, who appointed each member of the Research Advisory Board of the Committee on Standards in Public Life; what the appointment process was; and on what dates each person was appointed.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Board is no longer a standing body with formal membership. Former members of the Research Advisory Board were appointed by the Committee’s membership at that time.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, who sits on the Research Advisory Board of the Committee on Standards in Public Life; and whether the list of members has been published.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Board is no longer a standing body with formal membership. Former members of the Research Advisory Board were appointed by the Committee’s membership at that time.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish the learning content for the diversity and inclusion elements of the Defence Leadership Centre portfolio.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

The Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) elements of the Defence Leadership Centre portfolio include D&I Fundamentals, D&I Practitioner, D&I Advisor, Holistic Allies Training, Leading Diverse and Inclusive Organisations (currently pending revision) and Active Bystander. Further information on these courses can be found on the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom website at the following links:

https://www.da.mod.uk/courses/diversity-and-inclusion-fundamentals/

https://www.da.mod.uk/courses/diversity-and-inclusion-practitioner/

https://www.da.mod.uk/courses/diversity-and-inclusion-adviser/

https://www.da.mod.uk/courses/holistic-allies-training/

https://www.da.mod.uk/courses/leading-diverse-and-inclusive-organisations/

https://www.da.mod.uk/courses/active-bystander-fundamentals/

These courses are consistently reviewed and updated, to ensure that they are in accordance with relevant policies.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has issued guidance on the use of Departmental premises for speeches by Ministers.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Any use of departmental premises by Ministers for speeches should be an appropriate use of government resources.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many new (a) executive agencies, (b) non-departmental public bodies, (c) public corporations and (d) publicly-owned companies (i) have been established since 4 July 2024 and (ii) are due to be established.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

As said in my previous answer of 8 January 2025, the Cabinet Office maintains records and oversight of formally established arm’s-length bodies, including executive agencies, non-ministerial departments and non-departmental public bodies. No ALBs have been formally established since 4 July 2024. Records for public corporations and publicly-owned companies are held at departmental level.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2025 to Question 39113 on Armed Forces: Equality, if he will list the terms of reference of the previous review into Armed Forces equality, diversity and inclusion.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

As previously advised in the answer of 24 March 2025 to Question 39113 on Armed Forces: Equality, the review was commissioned by the previous Government and was not published. As such, there is no intention to publish any internal correspondence related to this work.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the press release entitled Regulator axed as red tape is slashed to boost growth, published on 11 March 2025, what the estimated reduction in staff numbers is from the merger of the Payment Services Regulator into the Financial Conduct Authority; what functions will cease; and whether staff will be required to move desks.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) has carried out important work to support the UK’s world leading payments sector. However, moving forward, the Government wishes to see a more streamlined regulatory environment with minimal overlap between regulators’ responsibilities. That is why the Government has announced its intentions to consolidate the PSR and its functions primarily within the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

The Government will consult on the detail of this proposal in the summer. However, the expectation is that most functions will move to the FCA, reflecting the close synergies between those organisations.

Questions regarding the staffing of the FCA are matters for the regulator, which is independent from Government.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department (a) employs staff and (b) uses contractors on zero hour contracts; and whether any (i) staff and (ii) contractors are paid less than the London Living Wage.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Department for Business and Trade does not use zero hours contracts for staff or contractors. Civil Servants are employed either as Senior Civil Servants or as one of the Delegated Grades with salaries determined by the relevant pay bands. The Department does not pay any staff or contractors less than the London living wage and this applies to staff based in London and Nationally. Please see the tables below for our current National and London pay scales for Delegated Grades.

DBT pay bands 2024/25 - London

DBT pay bands 2024/25 - National

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2025 to Question 39690 on Ministers: Aviation, how many RAF Envoy flights for Ministers have been made since 1 January 2025.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Since 1 January 2025 there have been five tasks relating to travel by Ministers on the RAF Envoy.

It has been the practice of successive administrations not to publish granular information relating to the official movements of Ministers and those accompanying them within the United Kingdom. Information about official overseas ministerial travel is published as part of the Cabinet Office transparency returns and made available on the GOV.UK website.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the consultation on the implementation of the new subscription contracts regime, published on 18 November 2024, whether the provisions on subscription contracts will apply to the (a) sale and (b) marketing of trade union membership.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The subscription regime will apply to contracts between a trader (a person acting for business purposes) and a consumer (an individual acting outside of their business) which have auto-renewal features and where the consumer receives goods, services or digital content from the trader in return for payment.

Generally, individuals are likely to join a trade union for purposes solely to do with their trade or profession. Although there are variations, they are joining a collective of workers that will represent their interests at work. Unions are democratic organisations, controlled by members, allowing them to influence how their membership fees are used.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the written statement of 17 December 2024 on Progress towards a modern industrial strategy, HCWS319, if he will publish the declarations of interest of each member of the Strategic Advisory Council; and whether they include declarations of political interest.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

All members of the Industrial Strategy Advisory Council were appointed in line with the Cabinet Office’s Direct Ministerial Appointments guidance based on their broad range of skills and experience from across business, academic and trade unions to inform the Industrial Strategy. All conflicts and interests were declared in line with this appointments process to ensure these are appropriately managed. Direct Ministerial appointees are politically impartial in their roles and there is no requirement for conflicts to be made public under Cabinet Office guidance.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the cost to the public purse was of the reception held for trade unions and other stakeholders in her Department on 11 July 2024; what (a) food and (b) alcohol was provided; and who attended.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

This event was held to enable my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education to outline the new government’s priorities for education and social care to a wide range of delivery partners and stakeholders. This acknowledges the key role played by stakeholders across education, business and civil society in working with government to break the link between a child’s background and their future success.

269 stakeholders were invited to this event representing all areas of the department’s work, including businesses, school staff, charities and education experts.

The event was modest in style and format for an event of this size. Delivered in the department using existing suppliers, the total cost of the event was £7,625. This included event production costs and catering. A standard low-cost catering option was provided, including light refreshments, wine, orange juice and water.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the letter from Lord Sharpe to the Chair of the Animals in Science Committee, published on 1 March 2024, whether the Home Office will issue a policy advice note to (a) discourage and (b) prohibit the use of the Forced Swim Test.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office)

The letter from Lord Sharpe was issued under the previous Government. I can however, issue an update. The Home Office Regulator has reviewed all licences authorising the use of the Forced Swim Test (FST) under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. The Regulator has subsequently liaised with licence holders where necessary to implement the recommendations of the Animals in Science Committee.

The number of project licences that authorises the FST in Great Britain has decreased from nine on the 1 March 2024, to a current total of only four licences. All of these licences are due to expire by 2028.

The Home Office Regulator will, through audit and regulatory processes, assure that relevant establishments apply robust scientific justification, ethical oversight and the 3Rs fully and consistently across all applicable licences.

This Government has set a manifesto commitment to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing” and will publish a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods to animal testing later this year. This strategy supports the current scientific direction on reducing use of the FST (www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0273230021001434).

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions Ministers in his Department had relating to Government business at Labour Party Conference in 2024; whether (a) meetings and (b) other engagement will be recorded in transparency returns; and whether all discussions relating to Government business were reported back to civil servants.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Meetings and engagements held in a political capacity are not declared in transparency returns. Those not held in a political capacity, including at the 2024 Labour Party Conference, can be found at Gov.uk between returns for July to September, and October to December, which will be published soon.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the appointment of a Diversity and Inclusion Learning and Development Professional was approved by Ministers as an exception to the Civil Service equality, diversity and inclusion spending controls.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

The appointment of a Diversity and Inclusion Learning and Development professional within the Defence Academy was in keeping with Civil Service recruitment policy and did not require Ministerial approval. Recruitment in this case was compliant with internal efficiency measures as stipulated in the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion spending controls.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2025 to Question 39690 on Ministers: Aviation, whether all of the RAF Envoy flights were domestic flights; and how many different Minsters travelled on them.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The RAF Envoy flights over the period were predominantly international, not domestic and were taken by 2 ministers. It has been the practice of successive administrations not to publish granular information relating to the official movements of Ministers and those accompanying them within the United Kingdom. Information about official overseas Ministerial travel is published as part of the Cabinet Office transparency returns and made available on the GOV.UK website.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 14 March 2025 to Question 36276 on Military Aircraft: Helicopter, which Ministers are now eligible to use the rotary wing air transportation service.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

All Defence Ministers have access to the Cabinet Office Ministerial Air Transport Office administered helicopter transport contract, in line with their cross-Government peers. This contract is not administered by the Ministry of Defence.

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 his Department’s publication entitled Defra: spending over £500, January 2025, published on 21 March 2025, what the Environment Agency purchased from VAT: GB 695449381 on 14 January 2025.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

On 14 January 2025, the Environment Agency purchased training for qualifying staff who hold a professional qualification provided by the Institute of Asset Management. The training was provided by Asset Management Consulting Limited, described on the publication as VAT: GB 695449381. The description comes from the supplier.

The Cabinet Office has recently announced measures to ensure public expenditure offers maximum value to the taxpayer. This is to correct the lack of respect for public money by the previous government, which allowed this type of spend to be entirely unchecked and unmonitored, including for the time that he was a minister in that department.

The policy detail can be found here:

Government-branded merchandise and away days banned - GOV.UK

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 29153 on Ministry of Justice: Equality, which company provided the EDI course; and what the title was of the course.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The “Creating inclusive Virtual Teams” course is procured through the Government Learning Framework provided via KPMG.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many civil servants in her Department have been disciplined for (a) plagiarism and (b) making false statements on a CV when applying for a job in the latest 12 month period for which figures are available.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Treasury has not taken any formal disciplinary action against any of its civil servants for plagiarism or making factually incorrect statements in a CV or a job application in the last 12 months.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what procurement process was used to appoint D F Press Ltd as the media adviser to the Committee on Standards in Public Life; whether the appointment was subject to open competition; and what the (a) value and (b) duration of the contract is.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The current contract’s duration is from 1st August 2023 to 31st July 2025 with a value of £110,000 excluding VAT. The contract was procured via Single Tender Action.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will take steps to ensure that streaming services ensure their content is not in breach of UK law.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

Ofcom regulates the content on UK-based streaming services through their on-demand programme services rules. Under regulations introduced through the Media Act 2024, the Government is giving Ofcom new powers to draft and enforce a Video-on-demand Code for designated services, which can include non-UK based streaming services. This will be similar to the Broadcasting Code, which sets appropriate standards for content on linear television, including rules on harmful and offensive material, accuracy, fairness, and privacy. In addition, the distribution of particular types of content can constitute a criminal offence.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, If he will publish the declared interests of each of the external reviewers to the Strategic Defence Review 2024-2025.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The Reviewers were all Direct Ministerial Appointments (DMAs) and are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Board Members and follow the Seven Principles of Public Life.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to introduce capability-based pay in the civil service.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The government believes pay and reward structures should incentivise expertise and high performance. The Cabinet Office is reviewing capability-based pay arrangements that already exist in the Civil Service to analyse their impact on organisations that have implemented such arrangements already.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2025 to Question 39582 on Public Appointments, if he will provide the information in relation to public appointment competitions within the remit of (a) his Department and (b) 10 Downing Street.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

It is important that any recommendations made by Advisory Assessment Panels, and any exchanges they have with Ministers, remain confidential to ensure the flow of free and frank advice during the public appointment process. To uphold this confidentiality, disclosure of such information would likely affect the effectiveness of central government and other public services and will therefore not be released.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on road connectivity between England and Wales.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

Cross-border travel is crucial for people between Wales and England to unlock economic growth, employment opportunities and better connect the Union.

Improving transport connectivity is a priority for me, and I have been working in partnership with the Transport Secretary and the Welsh Government through the Wales Rail Board to deliver the transport improvements Wales needs.   

Question

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

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

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.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2025 to Question 37814 on Public Bodies: Reviews, which reviews have been paused.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Public Bodies Review Programme closed as planned on 31st March 2025, and we will no longer be tracking reviews proposed as part of this programme.

On the 7th of April 2025, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster announced a process to rapidly review every arms length body across government.

Found: Asser; Bambos Charalambous; Sir Christopher Chope; Graeme Downie; Mary Kelly Foy; Tracy Gilbert; Richard Holden

Found: Asser; Bambos Charalambous; Sir Christopher Chope; Graeme Downie; Mary Kelly Foy; Tracy Gilbert; Richard Holden

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the total cost was of the Civil Service paybill, by (a) salary costs, (b) National Insurance Contributions, (c) employer Pension Contributions, (d) severance costs and (e) total pay costs in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Salary data for the Civil Service is published annually as part of Civil Service Statistics, an Accredited Official Statistics release. The most recent salary cost figures as at 31st March 2024 were provided in response to Peter Bedford MP’s question on 16th October 2024.

The latest estimates of the total paybill with and without estimated employer National Insurance contributions were provided in response to Richard Holden MP’s question on 8th April 2025.

Both Employer Pension contributions and severance costs are not published by the Cabinet Office.

For 2024/25, departmental pay awards have been made within the controls of the 2024/25 Pay Remit Guidance. Information on total paybill costs may be published by individual departments, but there is no routine publication of the overall Civil Service paybill figure.

Written questions (WPQs) allow MPs to ask for information on the work, policy and activities of Government departments, related bodies, and the administration of Parliament.