Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, further to the Cabinet Office consultation paper on Digital ID, 10 March 2026, CP1498, page 57, if he will list examples of cultural communities with less engagement in mainstream society, other than religious communities and travellers.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The consultation identifies several groups that may face barriers to mainstream digital engagement and is seeking views on how to support these individuals.
Asked by: Lord Gilbert of Panteg (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 (HL13975), and in light of the statutory prohibitions under section 8(5)(b) of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 on exercising any power in relation to the management of any part of the civil service, why Jonathan Powell is listed as management on the Cabinet Office website.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The National Security Adviser sets direction on behalf of the Prime Minister for national security and foreign policy in the National Security Secretariat. Some leadership and corporate responsibilities, such as the line management of civil servants, accounting or matters affecting a civil servant’s career (including recruitment, promotion, reward and discipline), are not carried out by the National Security Adviser.
Asked by: Lord Gilbert of Panteg (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Government Secure Zone Security Monitoring and Control Centre is still operational; and if so, what is its annual cost.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government Security Zone Monitoring and Control Centre (known as the Government Security Zone Information Room) is operational. In line with the policy followed by successive administrations, the Government does not comment in detail on security arrangements within the Zone.
Asked by: Iqbal Mohamed (Independent - Dewsbury and Batley)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information his Department held on Labour Together's report into journalists prior to the hon. Member for Makerfield’s appointment as Parliamentary Secretary.
Answered by Chris Ward - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
There is an established process in place for the appointment of Ministers.
Advice, which may or may not have been provided to the Prime Minister as part of this process, is treated in confidence.
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 2 December 2025 to Question 94697, whether the temporary promotion to the Director General position was made via full and open competition.
Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
As set out in the Recruitment Principles, temporary promotions are an exception to the requirement for fair and open competition.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards’ investigation into Labour Together and the hon. Member for Makerfield took evidence from third parties.
Answered by Chris Ward - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The work undertaken by the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards is set out in his advice to the Prime Minister of 27th February 2026 which is published on gov.uk.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many Information Tribunal cases relating to His Department have been determined since 4 July 2024; and if he will list the reference numbers of each.
Answered by Chris Ward - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Tribunal decisions, including those relating to the Cabinet Office, are published by The National Archives and can be found at caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Asked by: Dan Norris (Independent - North East Somerset and Hanham)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster's speech entitled Move fast. Fix things., published on 20 January 2026, what discussions he has had with regional mayors on lessons learned from Project Reset.
Answered by Chris Ward - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister’s (CSPM) speech set out how “Project Reset” would slash bureaucracy and enable civil servants to move fast. It will mean fewer repeated permissions required, giving those closer to real decision-making more freedom and autonomy to deliver change.
CSPM has met with Mayors including the Mayor of the North East, the Mayor of the East Midlands, and the Mayor of London. These discussions included barriers to delivery.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to ensure full transparency regarding meetings Ministers and senior officials have held with Palantir Technologies; and whether records of those meetings are held centrally.
Answered by Chris Ward - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Government departments are required to publish details of Ministers’ and certain senior officials', including Permanent Secretaries and Director Generals, meetings with external individuals and organisations every quarter.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2026 to Question 116964 on Armed Conflict: Iran, when the Government was informed.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
In line with policy under successive administrations, the government does not routinely comment on operational matters.