Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of processes for providing access to the civil service prior to the 2024 general election; if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of those processes on the efficiency of Government since the general election; and if he will take steps to publish guidance on best practice for access talks between the civil service and official opposition at the next general election.

Pre-election contacts are an established part of the pre-election process. They are designed to allow the Opposition Parties to ask questions about departmental organisation and to inform civil servants of any organisational changes likely to take place.

Guidance on access talks is included in paragraph 2.21 of the Cabinet Manual. The meetings are confidential on both sides.