Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the answer of 28 April 2026 to Question 128726 on Lord Mandelson, who the Government Security Group review will report to; what its terms of reference are; and whether a report will be laid before Parliament.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The review conducted by the Government Security Group into whether any security concerns were raised during Peter Mandelson’s tenure as HMA Washington will be an internal review only. This is to enable thorough examination of any national security issues. As it is an internal review, the Terms of Reference will not be published. The Prime Minister and the Cabinet Secretary will receive the final report.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office was asked to contribute to the Cabinet Office and Downing Street due diligence process on the appointment of Lord Mandelson as Ambassador to the United States.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
I refer the Hon Member to the Government’s statement and release of information on 1st June, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The documents published in the first and second tranches contain the entirety of the documents the Government has available for disclosure, except those being withheld at the request of the Metropolitan police.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether communications held by the No10 Political Office staff were deemed to be in scope of the Humble Address relating to Lord Mandelson.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
I refer the Hon Member to the Government’s statement and release of information on 1st June, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The documents published in the first and second tranches contain the entirety of the documents the Government has available for disclosure, except those being withheld at the request of the Metropolitan police.
As set out in the methodological note included in this publication, in order that the Government could respond swiftly and transparently to discharge the spirit and letter of the Humble Address, search parameters were included based on the limbs of the Humble Address motion. All relevant individuals were instructed to retain and provide to the Cabinet Office all information they held that falls in scope of the Humble Address motion.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of dynamic alignment with the EU on energy and the carbon adjustment mechanism on trade deals with other nations and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership; and whether dynamic alignment with the EU would take precedence over existing trade deals.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
We have made a choice to align with the EU in some areas where it makes sense to do so in our national interest - such as our food and drink and emissions trading agreements. Combined, these agreements alone are set to add up to £9 billion a year to the UK economy by 2040. A linking agreement would also save UK industry from paying the EU CBAM charge on £7bn worth of UK exports. We have recently started negotiations on joining the internal electricity market. The government will ensure these agreements are consistent with its wider international obligations.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Ethics and Integrity Commission review into lobbying will include a review of the business appointment rules on (i) special advisers and (ii) Ministers; and what plans (a) the Independent Adviser and (b) his Department has to review those rules separately from the Commission.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The EIC’s review into lobbying, disclosure and access to government includes looking at whether the current Business Appointment Rules are sufficient, in particular in respect of managing potentially improper access to, and influence within, government. The Business Appointment Rules apply to Ministers and Crown Servants at all levels, including special advisers.
As the terms of reference set out, in undertaking this review it will be important for the EIC to seek views from stakeholders, including the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards.
The Government will then publish the Review’s findings and present the Government’s response to Parliament
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether discussions on embassy staffing in relation to Matthew Doyle were deemed to be in scope of the Humble Address relating to Lord Mandelson.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
I refer the Hon Member to the Government’s statement and release of information on 1st June, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The documents published in the first and second tranches contain the entirety of the documents the Government has available for disclosure, except those being withheld at the request of the Metropolitan police.
As set out in the methodological note included in this publication, in order that the Government could respond swiftly and transparently to discharge the spirit and letter of the Humble Address, search parameters were included based on the limbs of the Humble Address motion. All relevant individuals were instructed to retain and provide to the Cabinet Office all information they held that falls in scope of the Humble Address motion.
Asked by: Jayne Kirkham (Labour (Co-op) - Truro and Falmouth)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the government plans to review procurement rules that prevent local authorities from prioritising UK-built buses.
Answered by Chris Ward - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
This Government is determined to ensure that the £400bn spent annually on procurement benefits British industry, jobs, and skills.
This government recently brought in The Local Government (Non-commercial Considerations) (England) Order 2026 so that local authorities in England can reserve competitions for below-threshold contracts to local or UK businesses. In addition, the Department for Transport has recently published a 10- year Zero Emission Bus (ZEB) Order Pipeline detailing the expected procurement of battery-electric and zero-emission buses between 2026 and 2035. This will provide far greater planning certainty for UK bus manufacturers.
I also announced new reforms on March 26th 2026 to ensure that government procurement does much more to protect national security, including by supporting critical UK industries, in line with our international trade agreements, and that it helps deliver a fairer economy. As part of this, we are creating a new definition of Social Value in Government Procurement, which will give additional weight to support local jobs, skills and community impact.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has had discussions with the European Commission on rejoining the EU Single Market for goods.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
We don’t provide a running commentary on current, or future negotiations. But this government’s red lines are clear: there will be no return to the Single Market, Customs Union or freedom of movement.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish a copy of his Department's (a) guidance and (b) manuals on undertaking due diligence.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
As per the published Guidance on Making Direct Ministerial Appointments, appropriate open-source due diligence should be carried out by the department responsible for the appointment.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Lord Mandelson’s personal information, in as far as it relates to his appointment and vetting, is in scope of the Government response to the Humble Address; and what is the definition of personal information.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
I refer the Hon Member to the Government’s statement and release of information on 1st June and the debate of 3rd June, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. As the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister confirmed to the House, the vetting summary and recommendation was shared with the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) as part of the response to the Humble Address.
The Volume II publication outlined the definition of personal information and the Government's approach to fulfilling the Humble Address.