Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office on 2 December 2025 (HC92608), whether the Prime Minister’s recusal covers all matters relating to government policy on football or only the Football Governance Act 2025 and the Independent Football Regulator; and whether they will set out the full terms of the Prime Minister’s recusal.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

I refer the Noble Lady to the Prime Minister’s letter to the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards of 12 November which states that in Autumn 2024 the Prime Minister agreed to recuse himself from decisions relating to the Football Governance Bill.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 3 February (HL13976), and with reference to paragraph 223 of the Cabinet Office Guide to Parliamentary Work and paragraph 1.6(d) of the Ministerial Code, what is the reason why current policy development prevents the publication of the previous guidance to the Civil Service about speaking to the media.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

This guidance is currently under development in a live policy area. Premature release of this information would inhibit the free and frank provision of advice for policy development.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether their response to the Humble Address on 4 February regarding Lord Mandelson will make redactions on grounds other than matters likely to prejudice international relations or national security; whether other exemptions similar to those under the Freedom of Information Act will be applied; and whether there is guidance to officials which sets out what information is and is not in scope of the response to the Humble Address.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

I refer the Noble Lady to the Government's response to the Urgent Question tabled on 12th February (Hansard Volume 853, Column 364), the Written Ministerial Statement in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister that same day (HLWS1344), and the Oral Statement on the 23 February (repeated on 24th February, Hansard Volume 853, Column 494), which sets out an update on the Government's process. We will set out further details in due course. The Government wishes to ensure that Parliament's instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.