Asked by: Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government which public body holds the current cash equivalent transfer value of the pension scheme established under the Pensions Increase (Pension Scheme for Keir Starmer QC) Regulations 2013; and which public body holds details on the individual benefits of that scheme available to the scheme's member.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Information about this Pension Scheme, including a calculation of the cash equivalent transfer value, was included in the Crown Prosecution Service's annual report and accounts for 2013-14. The Pension Scheme is managed by the Cabinet Office, and details of individual benefits are held by Capita, the Scheme Administrator (the cash equivalent transfer value is calculated only when required). There has been no change to the policy under the last Administration not to publish information about civil servants' individual pensions apart from in the remuneration reports contained in departmental annual reports and accounts.
Asked by: Baroness Coffey (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many civil servants are employed through Skilled Worker visas by each department (including non-ministerial departments) and their executive agencies.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
This information is not held centrally and would only be held by individual departments.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of a UK-EU Customs Union Deal for economic growth.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
We have not made an assessment as we have been clear there will be no return to the single market, the customs union, or freedom of movement. We are focused on strengthening our relationship with the EU to make trade easier, help British businesses and support economic growth. At the first UK-EU Summit, the Prime Minister announced a deal with the EU which will deliver on what the British public voted for and which was welcomed by businesses.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, who the internal and external members are of each Mission Board.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
It is for the lead Secretary of State to determine the membership of their Mission Board.
Asked by: Lee Dillon (Liberal Democrat - Newbury)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the economic contribution of wholesale distributors to the UK economy.
Answered by Josh Simons - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 8th of December is attached.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the Cabinet Office Facility Time Framework.
Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
A copy of the Facility Time Framework and its supporting guidance was deposited in the House Library in May of this year.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the letter from the Permanent Secretary to the hon. Member for Thirsk and Malton, dated 24 November 2025, whether the measures allow Tim Allan to potentially benefit from a rise in the value of his shares in Strand Partners.
Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
Before his appointment as a special adviser, Mr Allan sought and received advice on his interests. He has followed every element of the advice received.
Mr Allan has formally waived his rights as a shareholder over any matter requiring consent or approval of investors, as well as rights to receive shareholder information. He has also waived his rights to receive any dividend, and will not receive any share options. He agreed not to increase his shareholdings in Strand Partners during his time as a special adviser. Mr Allan has recused himself from engagement with Strand Partners in relation to the firm’s business, and from involvement in any procurement relating to Strand Partners during his period of employment. He retains an investment in the company.
Asked by: Jim McMahon (Labour (Co-op) - Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans the Government has to conduct an inquiry, investigation or review into foreign interference at elections and with elected members at all levels.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
It is, and always will be, an absolute priority for this Government to protect our democratic and electoral processes. This is why on 18 November, I set out a Counter Political Interference and Espionage Action Plan to disrupt and deter foreign influence and spying from foreign states.
We recognise that elected representatives are potential targets for foreign influence and interference. In October 2025, the National Protective Security Agency published its guidance on how members of Parliament and their Parliamentary staff can protect themselves from foreign states and its proxies in relation to espionage and foreign interference.
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 page 16 of the Cabinet Office Annual report and accounts 2024-2025, HC1372, 23 October 2025, what proportion of the downward revision of the Resource AME was due to a recalculation of the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) was formed last year, began processing compensation claims within two months of receiving the legislative powers to do so. It has been set an unprecedented challenge and is working hard to meet the needs of all those it serves in delivering justice to victims.
Of the £5.278bn downward revision of the Resource AME requirement, £5.118bn (97%) was related to the recalculation of the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme future payment provision.
Estimating eligible claim volumes is challenging, relying on various assumptions which are refined on an ongoing basis. Changes in the overall provision stem from evolving assumptions and estimates, updates to regulations and other factors. Crucially, these estimates do not limit IBCA’s ability to make payments and everyone who is eligible and makes a claim will be paid in accordance with the legislation.
As of 2 December, 2,867 people have received an offer of compensation, and over £1.7 billion has been paid.
Asked by: Perran Moon (Labour - Camborne and Redruth)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department has taken to help ensure that the Infected Blood Compensation Authority claims process is accessible to people whose historic NHS records are missing or partially redacted.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Scheme has been designed to minimise as far as possible the burden on those applying, and as set out in the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme Regulations 2024, eligibility for the Scheme will be determined based on the balance of probabilities. The Infected Blood Compensation Authority will provide assistance to those who believe their medical records have been lost or destroyed.
In addition to this, on 3 July 2025, the Permanent Secretary of the Cabinet Office wrote to the Chairs of the PAC and PACAC Committees to set out the measures being taken to prioritise faster compensation payments, and one of these measures is to use the powers in the Victims and Prisoners Act to get records from the Infected Blood Inquiry, and using testimony to contribute to the assessment of proof of infection.