Asked by: Baroness Uddin (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, in light of the consultation on digital ID, whether they will make printed information about the consultation available in the premises of public services, including education, local authority and health service premises.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government has launched a national conversation to ensure the digital ID system is shaped by all communities.
The digital ID consultation will involve 8 weeks of open engagement – running from 10 March to 5 May - where anyone who wants to take part can share their views in ways that work for them. You can do this online via an online form, by email or by post.
We will also support local conversations and events across the UK to spread awareness and encourage participation. This includes roadshows, roundtables, as well as resources such as a ‘workshop in a box’ to help communities run their own discussions in ways that work for them. To request materials for ‘workshop in a box’, please email workshop@digitalid.cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
After the 8-week open engagement period, we will bring together a broadly representative group of 100-120 people from across the UK to take part in a more in-depth deliberative engagement process.
Asked by: Baroness Uddin (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, in light of the consultation on digital ID, what steps they will take to ensure that the consultation mechanism and information are made available to all communities, including both inner city and rural areas.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government has launched a national conversation to ensure the digital ID system is shaped by all communities.
The digital ID consultation will involve 8 weeks of open engagement – running from 10 March to 5 May - where anyone who wants to take part can share their views in ways that work for them. You can do this online via an online form, by email or by post.
We will also support local conversations and events across the UK to spread awareness and encourage participation. This includes roadshows, roundtables, as well as resources such as a ‘workshop in a box’ to help communities run their own discussions in ways that work for them. To request materials for ‘workshop in a box’, please email workshop@digitalid.cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
After the 8-week open engagement period, we will bring together a broadly representative group of 100-120 people from across the UK to take part in a more in-depth deliberative engagement process.
Asked by: Baroness Uddin (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure that those who are regarded as digitally excluded are informed of the consultation on digital ID.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government has launched a national conversation to ensure the digital ID system is shaped by all communities.
The digital ID consultation will involve 8 weeks of open engagement – running from 10 March to 5 May - where anyone who wants to take part can share their views in ways that work for them. You can do this online via an online form, by email or by post.
We will also support local conversations and events across the UK to spread awareness and encourage participation. This includes roadshows, roundtables, as well as resources such as a ‘workshop in a box’ to help communities run their own discussions in ways that work for them. To request materials for ‘workshop in a box’, please email workshop@digitalid.cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
After the 8-week open engagement period, we will bring together a broadly representative group of 100-120 people from across the UK to take part in a more in-depth deliberative engagement process.
Asked by: Baroness Uddin (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to take steps to make the individuals who signed the House of Commons petition "Do not introduce Digital ID cards" aware of their ability to contribute to the consultation on digital ID.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The digital ID consultation, running from 10 March to 5 May, is open to all members of the public, including those who expressed interest via the House of Commons petition. We have launched a comprehensive communications campaign to ensure broad awareness. Members of the public can contribute via the GOV.UK survey, email or post.
Asked by: Baroness Uddin (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what safeguards will be put in place to protect the right to refuse a digital ID.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We want people to have the option to use the digital ID to make their lives easier. There will be no legal obligation for people to have or present the national digital ID. If someone does not want a digital ID they will not have to get it.
Legislation on the digital ID will be subject to Parliamentary scrutiny in the usual way. Any changes to the scope of this legislation after it passes would need further parliamentary scrutiny.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his timeframe estimation is for the final settling of all outstanding claims within the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme, including those with registered intent.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) Framework Document, published in March 2025, sets out the timelines agreed between IBCA and Cabinet Office; namely for the bulk of infected people to be paid no later than the end of 2027 and the bulk of affected people to be paid no later than the end of 2029.
These timescales have been agreed with IBCA, to ensure that the door is kept open for those who have not yet identified themselves as being infected or affected. In my oral statement to the House on 21 July 2025, I set out that these dates are not targets for delivery, but ‘backstops’, and I am pleased that all registered infected people have now been contacted to begin their claim, and that IBCA has started the first claims from all eligible groups.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Cabinet Office Propriety and Constitution Group has written guidance on whether an incumbent Prime Minister who loses his House of Commons seat at a general election remains Prime Minister.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Prime Minister is the head of the Government and holds that position by virtue of his or her ability to command the confidence of the House of Commons, which in turn commands the confidence of the electorate, as expressed through a general election.
As set out in the Cabinet Manual, by modern convention, the Prime Minister always sits in the House of Commons. It is not possible, or desirable, to set out how these conventions operate in practice in every scenario.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 19 March 2026 to Question 121096 on Cabinet Office: Email, whether any of those emails were (a) sent to and (b) sent by Gordon Brown.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
It would not be appropriate to comment on the security operations of a previous administration.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to answer question 112306, published on 10 February 2026.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
A response has been issued here.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason he plans to introduce a mandatory retirement age for the House of Lords.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
As set out in the Government’s manifesto, the Government recognises the good work of many peers who scrutinise legislation and hold the government of the day to account.
However, reform to the House of Lords is long overdue and essential. The Government’s objective is to bring about a renewed focus on active contribution, within a smaller House of Lords that better reflects the country it serves. The Government is therefore committed to introducing a mandatory retirement age for members of the House of Lords.