Cabinet Office

The Government Communication Service (GCS) conducts an annual data collection, requiring government organisations to submit accurate and timely returns through departmental single points of contact. It should be noted that some organisations may have undergone significant changes since the data was collected in July 2025.

At the time of the collection:

(a) Downing Street: The Number 10 Civil Service Communications team consisted of 44.8 FTE.

(b) Cabinet Office: Core Cabinet Office comms roles consisted of 40.43 FTE (of which 22 are roles within Press Office and Cabinet Office Digital Communications) with 141.52 FTE in the Central GCS team (also based within the Cabinet Office).

On 30 October the government published for the first time guidance for departments on the process for ministers making Direct Ministerial Appointments. This replaced earlier internal desk note guidance for departments, which had been rewritten to provide greater clarity for a wider audience, including setting out publicly where Direct Ministerial Appointments sit within the various routes into government.

On 3 November the Cabinet Secretary, during his evidence session before the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, agreed to send - and subsequently sent - a copy of the previous internal departmental desk note to the Committee. A copy of this now superseded desk note guidance will be placed in the House of Commons Library.

The Commissioner for Public Appointments provides independent assurance that public appointments are made in accordance with the Principles of Public Appointments and the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

Following the Commissioner’s investigation into the appointment of the Chair of the Independent Football Regulator, the Government welcomes his findings against which we are reviewing the robustness of the current guidance with a view to learning the lessons from the report.

Before the Second Home premium was introduced in Westminster, the Cabinet Office were aware that the former Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) was occupying Admiralty House (AH) as a second home and that council tax would therefore be payable by Government. In line with long standing precedent under successive administrations, as the property was a second residence the Government was responsible for paying the Council Tax on Admiralty House, not the former DPM. Similarly, the Cabinet Office is responsible for liaising with Westminster City Council (WCC) for matters concerning residency at Admiralty House.

WCC were notified at the beginning of May that the former DPM was occupying AH as a second home for council tax purposes, and details were provided for WCC to issue a bill accordingly.

GPA wrote to WCC in June to confirm that the second homes premium applied. WCC issued an invoice in July which was paid the same day.

Before the Second Home premium was introduced in Westminster, the Cabinet Office were aware that the former Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) was occupying Admiralty House (AH) as a second home and that council tax would therefore be payable by Government. In line with long standing precedent under successive administrations, as the property was a second residence, the Government was responsible for paying the Council Tax on Admiralty House, not the former DPM. Similarly, the Cabinet Office is responsible for liaising with Westminster City Council (WCC) for matters concerning residency at Admiralty House.

WCC were notified at the beginning of May that the former DPM was occupying AH as a second home for council tax purposes, and details were provided for WCC to issue a bill accordingly.

GPA wrote to WCC in June to confirm that the second homes premium applied. WCC issued an invoice in July which was paid the same day.

The Government Car Service (GCS) transferred to the Cabinet Office from the Department for Transport, as a result of a machinery of government change, on 1st April 2025. Freedom of Information (FOI) requests relating to GCS prior to that date were answered by the Department for Transport.

Since 1st April 2025, information on expenditure has been released by the Cabinet Office in response to FOI requests, where appropriate, and in line with the terms of the Freedom of Information Act.

10 Downing Street engages with businesses from a variety of sectors to deliver economic growth, in collaboration with other government departments. There has been no hospitality expenditure by the No10 Business Team since 4 July 2024.

As stated in the Government's response to the report of the House of Commons Committee on Standards (HC637), the Government believes that the Recall of MPs Act 2015 is broadly operating as intended. Where there are procedural challenges, the standards system has evolved to accommodate these.

The Arms Length Body (ALB) Review, formally launched on 7th April 2025, is ongoing and its outcomes will be communicated in due course.

The Cabinet Office does not hold a definition of Islamophobia. We take all allegations of inappropriate language, hostility, discrimination or prejudice very seriously. We have robust processes in place to investigate such matters. Possible sanctions as a result of such behaviours could include dismissal.

The department does not hold any information on whether public bodies operate four day weeks.

The Cabinet Office does not publish correspondence between unions and officials as this would undermine the ability to communicate freely.

A formal complaints procedure relating to the Lieutenancies was published in 2021. The Lieutenancies Act 1997 and the Northern Ireland (Lieutenancy) Order 1975 provide the statutory framework relating to Lieutenancies.

The correspondence was published in error and therefore it was removed from GOV.UK.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 10 October 2025, Official Report, PQ 74276.

I refer the Hon Member back to the answer of 5 November 2025, Official Report, PQ 86240.

Providing BSL translations of pre-recorded audio and video content on public services is a legislative Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AAA criterion. As outlined in the Government Service Standard, all digital government services must as a minimum meet Level AA. AAA is best practice.

Through the Service Standard and Service Assessments, the Government Digital Service encourages departments to incorporate BSL into service design. In May this year DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) launched the UK Government’s first British Sign Language (BSL) online translation service for candidates booking their theory test online. DVSA held a series of user research session with BSL users, with one participant calling the service ‘life-changing’.

There are opportunities to use AI to accelerate the creation of accessible content across public services. If public bodies trial the use of AI in approaches to BSL, they would be required to conform with both WCAG and the Service Standard, and must conduct research with disabled people, including Deaf users and where appropriate to the service provision, those who use sign language or a sign language interpreter to interact with the service.

Regardless of if AI generated, services must also make sure any BSL video is culturally appropriate by working with the BSL community, testing it, or getting feedback.

Evaluation results for the GREAT Britain & Northern Ireland Campaign have not yet been finalised for financial year 2024/25. We expect initial economic returns generated by the campaign in 2024/25 to have been assessed and validated before the end of the year, and will be published via the GREAT website when appropriate.

Evaluation results for the GREAT Britain & Northern Ireland Campaign have not yet been finalised for financial year 2024/25. We expect initial economic returns generated by the campaign in 2024/25 to have been assessed and validated before the end of the year, and will be published via the GREAT website when appropriate.

Due to commercial and broader sensitivities surrounding this expenditure, we are unable to provide a more detailed breakdown as this could negatively affect the government's ability to engage with influencers in the most cost-effective manner.

Pippa Greenslade was appointed through a fair and open competition in 2019. Her second term as Generalist Member of the Senior Salaries Review Body was extended by 12 months, ending on 1 June 2026. Extensions do not require an open competition. The majority of the Cabinet Office’s public appointments are delivered internally; staff and administrative costs are absorbed within the department's existing budget.

The Prime Minister has made clear public service is a privilege and is committed to restoring trust in government by ensuring ministers are held to the highest standards.

Last year the Prime Minister published a new, strengthened, Ministerial Code which sets out the standards expected of all government ministers. It includes a full articulation of the Seven Principles of Public Life, bringing the importance of public service to the front and fore of the Code.

This commitment was further demonstrated in October when the Prime Minister updated the Ministerial Code. This update implemented reforms in relation to ministerial severance payments and changes to the operation of the Business Appointment Rules.

Before the Second Home premium was introduced in Westminster, the Cabinet Office was aware that the former Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) was occupying Admiralty House (AH) as a second home and that council tax would therefore be payable by Government. In line with long standing precedent under successive administrations, as the property was a second residence the Government was responsible for paying the Council Tax on Admiralty House, not the former DPM. Similarly, the Cabinet Office is responsible for liaising with Westminster City Council (WCC) for matters concerning residency at Admiralty House.

WCC were notified at the beginning of May that the former DPM was occupying AH as a second home for council tax purposes, and details were provided for WCC to issue a bill accordingly.

GPA wrote to WCC in June to confirm that the second home's premium applied. WCC issued an invoice in July which was paid the same day.

A record of this information is not held. Admiralty House is occasionally used overnight by Civil Servants where there is operational need. This is in-line with the usage of Admiralty House across successive governments.

Prior to the 2023 procurement for the Civil Service Pensions Scheme (CSPS), the Cabinet Office conducted a formal, evidence-based Delivery Model Assessment. This assessment was carried out in line with Public Sector Procurement legislation and the Sourcing Playbook, evaluating the risks and benefits of various models, including insourcing.

The assessment considered capability, capacity, and value for money, which informed the decision to procure from the third-party market. The subsequent procurement exercise was competitive, attracting multiple bidders and confirming a viable market.

The new contract contains robust governance procedures and contractual options, such as step-in rights, to manage supplier performance. As is current practice, performance data will continue to be published to ensure transparency.

The 2023 procurement was a formal process conducted in line with all legal requirements and is now complete, and there are no plans to review the exercise. The department is now focused on the transition to the new service. Capita has been contracted to assume full administrative responsibilities from 1 December 2025.

Special Advisers are provided with guidance regarding Civil Service Pension schemes during onboarding and offboarding, as well as throughout their tenure. Special Advisers are also directed to published Civil Service Pension scheme resources.

Special Advisers are provided with guidance regarding Civil Service Pension schemes during onboarding and offboarding, as well as throughout their tenure. Special Advisers are also directed to published Civil Service Pension scheme resources.

Secondments into the Civil Service from other sectors are a key route to bring essential skills and experience into the right roles and teams, enabling talented individuals from outside the Civil Service to contribute to the work of Government by sharing critical capabilities and innovative thinking for a set period of time.

The secondments data commission provides insight on inward and outward secondments taking place across government. The Cabinet Office has worked closely with departments to improve the amount, detail and quality of the data available. The limited number of records/data sets makes the data personally identifiable information, therefore it will not be possible to publish this data.

Cabinet Office Human Resources does collate information centrally on both junior and senior civil service staff who are given permission to run for local election. However, information on staff attending party political conferences is not collated centrally as previously referenced in my answer to Question 77543.

The correspondence referred to the resignation of the Rt Hon Member for Sheffield Heeley in November 2024. The Prime Minister has addressed this matter in the House and set out that, subsequent to her appointment as Secretary of State for Transport, further information emerged and that it was right for the former Transport Secretary to resign.

The public exchange of letters is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/louise-haighs-resignation-letter-and-the-prime-ministers-response-29-november-2024

Each government department discloses their ministerial pension benefits in their own Annual Report and Accounts.

Pension benefits of Cabinet Office Ministers for 2024-25 is disclosed on page 90 of the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/690e1f38896fad804b050fba/36.17_CO_ARA_24-25_00-Book_v17_WEB.pdf

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon. gentlemen’s Parliamentary Question of 14th November is attached.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon. gentlemen’s Parliamentary Question of 14th November is attached.

A list of Parliamentary Private Secretaries was published by the Cabinet Office in November 2025 on gov.uk and is available here. It will be updated periodically.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Rt. Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 11th November is attached.

We will ensure that a Data Protection Impact Assessment is conducted in line with legal requirements under Article 35 of the UK GDPR, before implementing digital ID. Decisions on publication will be taken in accordance with ICO guidance.

We are not talking to Larry Ellison or Oracle about digital ID. Throughout the development of the new digital ID, the Government will work closely with expert stakeholders, including civil society groups, technology companies and industry bodies to make it as effective and inclusive as possible.

The Digital ID will be designed, built and run by government digital teams. Any additional specialist external services that may be needed to support delivery will be subject to the usual competitive processes.

The digital ID policy team is in the process of being established. The staffing and budget will be considered as part of the Cabinet Office Business Plan in the normal way.

The ONS’ planned publication of the Economic Statistics Plan and the Survey Improvement and Enhancement Plan updates on 4 December is an important milestone in the ONS’ recovery plan. The Government welcomes the ONS’ open and transparent approach to its economic statistics recovery.

We have asked the ONS Parliamentary team to note your question and they have assured us they will highlight the publication through their normal routes in the usual way.

The payments reported in the CO annual report (page 94) were approved on the following dates:

• Alex Chisholm - payment was approved by the Cabinet Secretary on 7 February 2024 and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 22 February 2024.

• Simon Case - payment was approved by the CO Permanent Secretary on 12 March 2025 and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 21 March 2025.

The Second Homes Premium was introduced by Westminster City Council on the 1st April 2025. This was billed by the council in July 2025 as a one-off payment for the financial year and paid on the same day.

I refer the Hon Member to the Prime Minister’s letter to the Independent Adviser for Ministerial Standards, published on 12 November.

I refer the Hon Member to the Prime Minister’s letter to the Independent Adviser for Ministerial Standards, published on 12 November.