Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the speech by the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister on 20 January, what the budget will be for the new National School of Government and Public Services.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The National School of Government and Public Services will be part of the Cabinet Office. Its annual budget will be defined through normal Cabinet Office processes with any relevant information published as part of the Cabinet Office annual report and accounts. The creation of the National School is expected to deliver efficiency savings of between £4m-£15m across the spending review period 2026-29.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the speech by the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister on 20 January, whether external recruitment will take place for the new taskforces modelled on the Vaccine Taskforce.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Taskforces focus on Prime Ministerial priorities and will remove obstacles to delivery, drawing on lessons from the Vaccine Taskforce and other relevant examples.
They will have the freedom to hire the best talent from within the civil service at pace and expedited approvals for short-term appointments of external expertise.
Departmental Ministers will be accountable for their policy areas as now and will have a direct line to the top of government in Number 10, the Cabinet Office, and the Treasury to help support delivery.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the speech by the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister on 20 January, whether the budgets for the new taskforces modelled on the Vaccine Taskforce will come from existing budgets; and how many new taskforces will be created.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Number 10 and the Cabinet Office are continuing to work together and with departments to consider a range of options for Taskforces across the Prime Minister’s priorities, and will determine how many will be created.
They will be funded from existing budgets with prioritised business case approvals and increased delegated authority limits, if necessary, from the Treasury.
Departmental Ministers will remain accountable for their policy areas and will have a direct line to the top of government in Number 10, the Cabinet Office, and the Treasury to help support delivery.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when discussions with the European Union about UK participation in the Erasmus+ programme beyond 2028 will commence.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK and European Commission have reached an agreement in principle for the UK’s association to Erasmus+ in 2027. The Government’s immediate focus is to work to maximise take-up across all sectors so that the benefits of Erasmus+ association in 2027 can be fully realised.
Going forward, any continued UK participation in Erasmus+ under the next Multiannual Financial Framework will be informed by our experience of association in 2027 and will be based on a fair and balanced contribution. Discussions on any future association would commence closer to the time.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how much has been spent on external contractors by the New Media Unit since its inception.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Please refer to the table below for spend by the New Media Unit on third party suppliers, from 1 November 2024 to 13 November 2025.
Suppliers | Spend (£) |
OmniGov - MG OMD | 2,668,702.00 |
Pablo Unlimited | 733,512.93 |
The New Media unit includes employees from grade AO to SCS1 and the headcount is 28 FTE.
The New Media Unit is not currently recruiting.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the New Media Unit is fully staffed, and if not, whether further recruitment is planned to the unit.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Please refer to the table below for spend by the New Media Unit on third party suppliers, from 1 November 2024 to 13 November 2025.
Suppliers | Spend (£) |
OmniGov - MG OMD | 2,668,702.00 |
Pablo Unlimited | 733,512.93 |
The New Media unit includes employees from grade AO to SCS1 and the headcount is 28 FTE.
The New Media Unit is not currently recruiting.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what are the grades of the employees of the New Media Unit.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Please refer to the table below for spend by the New Media Unit on third party suppliers, from 1 November 2024 to 13 November 2025.
Suppliers | Spend (£) |
OmniGov - MG OMD | 2,668,702.00 |
Pablo Unlimited | 733,512.93 |
The New Media unit includes employees from grade AO to SCS1 and the headcount is 28 FTE.
The New Media Unit is not currently recruiting.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many special advisers and officials in total from all government departments were in attendance at COP30.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
I refer the Noble Lord to the answer of 17 November 2025, Official Report, PQ 88937.
PQ 88937 Andrew Snowden: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many (a) civil servants and (b) support staff attended the COP30 summit; and for what reason.
Cabinet Office response on 17 Nov: Ministerial travel is undertaken using efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements. Security considerations are also taken into account. Information about official overseas travel is published as part of the Cabinet Office transparency returns and made available on the GOV.UK website. It has been the practice that official Prime Ministerial flights are carbon offset where that is possible. Civil Servants and Special Advisers routinely travel with the Prime Minister, including so as to provide support in the conduct of any official duties, which can arise at any time.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will publish details of the new furnishings and refurbishments in the No. 10 and No. 11 Downing Street flats, including a list of refurbishments made and products purchased, with costs for each item.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
I refer the Noble Lord to the answer of 27 October 2025, Official Report, PQ 85501:
PQ 85501 Charlie Dewhirst: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to page 139 of the Cabinet Office annual report and accounts 2024-25, published on 23 October 2025, if he will provide a breakdown of the expenditure, including for individual fixtures and fittings, for the (a) refurbishment and (b) furnishing of the empty Downing Street flat; and if he will name which was empty flat.
Cabinet Office response on 4 November: As was the case under successive administrations, an itemised list is not routinely published.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect to complete the quango review.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Arms Length Body (ALB) Review, formally launched on 7th April 2025, is ongoing and its outcomes will be communicated in due course.