Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what role the Cabinet Office played in setting or overseeing the processes for security vetting and appointment of Lord Mandelson as UK ambassador to the United States; and whether the Cabinet Office provided guidance on the use of informal communications such as WhatsApp by ministers and officials involved in that process.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)
The Cabinet Office carried out a due diligence exercise prior to the announcement of Lord Mandelson’s role as His Majesty's Ambassador to the United States as documented in the response to the Humble Address published on 11 March 2026.
The Cabinet Office has responsibility for security vetting policy and the UK Security Vetting (UKSV) organisation is based in the Cabinet Office. UKSV carried out the national security vetting for Lord Mandelson in January 2025, although the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office sponsored this clearance and made the decision. The Cabinet Office officials involvement in the security vetting process is documented in the second Humble Address tranche published in the House on 1 June 2026.
Central guidance was issued in 2023 on Using Non-Corporate Communication Channels for Government Business, which is available on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information he he holds on the number of high street bank branches that have closed in each of the last 10 years.
Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A response to the Hon. Lady’s Parliamentary Question of 17th is attached.
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people of working age are economically inactive in each region of the United Kingdom.
Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A response to the Parliamentary Question of 16th June is attached.
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has received all WhatsApp messages and related electronic communications requested from Ministers, special advisers and officials about the vetting and appointment of Lord Mandelson as UK ambassador to the United States.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
I refer the Hon Member to the Government’s statement and release of information on 1st June, in response to the Humble Address. The documents published in the first and second tranches contain the entirety of the documents the Government has available for disclosure, except those being withheld at the request of the Metropolitan Police.
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what guidance his Department has issued to Ministers, special advisers and officials on the use, retention and disclosure of WhatsApp messages and other private electronic communications in relation to security.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Central guidance was issued in 2023 on Using Non-Corporate Communication Channels for Government Business, which is available on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of small business closures in England in the last five years.
Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A response to the Parliamentary Question of 8th June is attached.
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister of the Cabinet Office, what assessment his Department has conducted on the potential impact of the falling birth rate on public services and long-term demographic change.
Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A response to theParliamentary Question of 8 June is attached.
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many incidents of shoplifting were reported in the North West each of the last 10 years.
Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A response to the Hon. Lady’s Parliamentary Question of 8 June is attached.
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent assessment he has made of the reasons for the declining birth rate.
Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A response to the Parliamentary Question of 5th June is attached.
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent discussions he has had with the Department of Health and Social Care on the governance and accountability of the NHS Business Services Authority.
Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
Cabinet Office Ministers have not met with DHSC to discuss the governance and accountability of the NHS Business Services Authority.