Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the FOI release Honours nominations probity and propriety checks completed by HM Revenue and Customs, updated on 27 October 2022, whether the probity checks to preserve the integrity of the honours system have been carried out on the persons nominated in the resignation honours list put forward by the former Prime Minister, the Rt hon. member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip; which Departments have been contacted to carry out probity checks on the people on that list; whether the probity checks undertaken include consideration of the avoidance of (a) a conflict of interest and (b) the perception of a conflict of interest in the conferring of an honour on a person who has made substantial donations to the political party of the Prime Minister who has nominated them; and if he will make a statement.

Probity checks are carried out on all honours lists, including resignation honours lists. Checks are carried out with government departments including HMRC and relevant vetting and other professional bodies, as well as using open source information.

In general, donations to any political party should not be regarded as a reason for disqualification from receiving an honour.

It would be inappropriate to speculate about a possible list.