Asked by: Baroness Shawcross-Wolfson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 5 February (HL13845), when they expect to publish the civil service strategic workforce plan.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Publication of the Civil Service Strategic Workforce Plan has been delayed to ensure it is fully aligned with the vision and transformation ambitions set out by the Cabinet Secretary and the Prime Minister’s proposals to re-wire the state. This includes ambitions to establish devolution as a core principle of this Government, and to ensure the plan reflects the Cabinet Secretary’s clear ambition for an AI-enabled state.
Further details will be shared in due course.
Asked by: Patricia Ferguson (Labour - Glasgow West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many investigations by the Debarment Service have resulted in an organisation being debarred from tendering for government services.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Debarment Review Service (DRS) does not routinely publish or disclose figures on the number of cases currently being considered for potential investigation.
The time taken to consider a case varies according to its complexity, including the scope of evidence and information the referrer has provided which in turn the DRS has to consider and assess. DRS aims to progress each case in line with its published protocol.
To date, no investigations have resulted in a supplier being added to the debarment list.
Asked by: Patricia Ferguson (Labour - Glasgow West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the average timescale is for consideration of cases presented to the Debarment Service.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Debarment Review Service (DRS) does not routinely publish or disclose figures on the number of cases currently being considered for potential investigation.
The time taken to consider a case varies according to its complexity, including the scope of evidence and information the referrer has provided which in turn the DRS has to consider and assess. DRS aims to progress each case in line with its published protocol.
To date, no investigations have resulted in a supplier being added to the debarment list.
Asked by: Lord Goodman of Wycombe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to the command paper Protecting What Matters, published on 9 March (CP 1540), with which (1) individuals, (2) groups, (3) organisations, (4) businesses, and (5) bodies, will the Cabinet Office work to support the introduction of training on how religious hatred manifests and how it should be addressed.
Answered by Baroness Blake of Leeds - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
It is for individual organisations and employers to determine which training offer and provider is best suited to their sectors. As set-out in Protecting What Matters, tackling religious hatred requires a whole-of-society response, and improving understanding across society of how religious hatred manifests and how it should be addressed is vital.
Asked by: Liz Jarvis (Liberal Democrat - Eastleigh)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what support her Department is providing to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service in tackling wildfires; what assessment she has made of the adequacy of funding for wildfire-specific equipment for fire and rescue services; and what steps her Department is taking to protect the health and safety of firefighters undertaking prolonged wildfire operations.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
On 9 February, the Ministry published the 2026/27 Local Government Finance Settlement which sets out funding allocations for all local authorities including fire and rescue. This financial year, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority will have a core spending power of £105.36 million, an increase of 3.8% compared to 2025/26. Decisions on how fire and rescue authorities use their resources and equipment to meet those risks are a matter for each fire and rescue authority.
We’re investing nearly £100 million in the biggest upgrade of national resilience capabilities in nearly twenty years, part of which includes more specialist equipment and wildfire training for firefighters that can deploy nationally to support in wildfires across the country.
Fire and Rescue Authorities are responsible for assessing and planning for wildfire risk locally through their Community Risk Management Plans and work with other responders to ensure appropriate preparedness.
The health and wellbeing of firefighters is a top priority for the Government. Firefighters perform a unique and demanding role, facing a range of physical and mental health risks as part of their duties. We are committed to supporting firefighters throughout their careers and beyond, focusing on prevention, early intervention and long-term wellbeing.
Through our firefighter health and wellbeing programme, the Government is working with the sector to strengthen the evidence base, support and improve understanding of the long-term risks firefighters face. This includes considering how national activity can better support services in protecting firefighters’ health, safety and wellbeing during demanding operational activity.
Asked by: Lord Goodman of Wycombe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to the command paper Protecting What Matters, published on 9 March 2026, which (1) individuals, (2) groups, (3) organisations, (4) businesses, and (5) bodies will support the roll out of training on how religious hatred manifests itself and how it should be addressed.
Answered by Baroness Blake of Leeds - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
It is for individual organisations and employers to determine which training offer and provider is best suited to their sectors. As set-out in Protecting What Matters, tackling religious hatred requires a whole-of-society response, and improving understanding across society of how religious hatred manifests and how it should be addressed is vital.
Asked by: Lord Goodman of Wycombe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to the command paper Protecting What Matters, published on 9 March 2026, whether they plan to publish the details of which 40 areas they assess social cohesion to be under pressure and in line for the allocated £800 million of funding.
Answered by Baroness Blake of Leeds - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The list of neighbourhoods funded and full details of the selection methodology employed are available online here.
Asked by: Patricia Ferguson (Labour - Glasgow West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many active cases are currently being considered by the Debarment Review Service.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Debarment Review Service (DRS) does not routinely publish or disclose figures on the number of cases currently being considered for potential investigation.
The time taken to consider a case varies according to its complexity, including the scope of evidence and information the referrer has provided which in turn the DRS has to consider and assess. DRS aims to progress each case in line with its published protocol.
To date, no investigations have resulted in a supplier being added to the debarment list.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many phones have been reported (a) lost and (b) stolen in the Office for the Prime Minister and Cabinet since 20 July 2026.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Cabinet Office has recorded twenty lost mobile phones, and one stolen phone since July 2026.
Cabinet Office's Security Breach Policy requires all individuals to follow directions from Cabinet Office Security when there is a security breach, such as theft of Cabinet Office electronics. As part of its standard operating procedures Cabinet Office Security will log any loss and will direct individuals to report any stolen items to the police and request a crime reference number.
Asked by: Danny Kruger (Reform UK - East Wiltshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 13 July 2026 to Question 16618, on what dates the contracts awarded to external providers for the Review will be published on Contracts Finder; and if she will publish the unique procurement reference numbers for those contracts.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
There are no plans to award new contracts to external providers to support the Review.