Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 13 May 2025 to Question 47335 on Civil Service: Equality, whether the Government monitors exemptions permitted to the guidance on Civil Service equality, diversity and inclusion expenditure for Arm’s Length Bodies.

The exemption requirement from the Civil Service Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Expenditure Guidance does not apply to arm’s-length bodies. As stated in paragraph four of the guidance, for arm’s-length bodies, the Principal Accounting Officer, in consultation with the Board, must authorise the expenditure.