Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many ministerial red boxes belonging to his Department have (a) been reported missing or lost or (b) had their security features removed in order that they can be purchased for personal use by former ministers from 1 May 2018 to 30 April 2023.

The records of the Department’s Security Unit show no ministerial red boxes having been reported missing or lost in the timeframe requested.

It is a long-standing convention under successive administrations that Ministers may pay to retain red boxes as a memento of their time in their role, as long as the security features are removed. One ministerial red box was purchased in this manner during the timeframe requested.