Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the No10 press release of 12 February 2026 entitled The Prime Minister and Cabinet Secretary have agreed by mutual consent the Cabinet Secretary will stand down, which official will be responsible for (a) the Government response to the Humble Address and (b) the Cabinet Secretary’s review into Lord Mandelson.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
I refer you to the Oral Statement on the 23 February in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister which confirms that the Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary is leading this process.
The former Cabinet Secretary was asked to review available information regarding Peter Mandelson’s contacts with Jeffrey Epstein during his period as a Minister. After an initial review of some documents, the matter was referred to the police. In light of the ongoing criminal investigation that was announced, that review has now been paused. The government is cooperating fully with the police investigation and providing any assistance required.
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Prime Minister was advised of the letter sent by Lord Glasman to Morgan McSweeney and Paul Ovenden on the appointment of Lord Mandelson as Ambassador to the United States.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the current Cabinet Secretary was appointed from a Reserve List in Merit Order.
Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Cabinet Manual sets out that the Cabinet Secretary is appointed directly by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister receives advice from the First Civil Service Commissioner, but is the final decision maker.
As set out in the Gov.UK announcement of the Cabinet Secretary appointment, “the Prime Minister and the First Civil Service Commissioner agreed a process to appoint a new Cabinet Secretary”.
Once this process was complete, the First Civil Service Commissioner confirmed that “Dame Antonia Romeo is an exceptional candidate of the highest calibre, having run two of the largest operational departments in Government, and confirmed her track record makes her the right candidate for the role”. The PM appointed her on the 19th February.
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Ministers and special advisers have been asked to provide details of communications with Global Counsel to his Department as part of the (a) Government response to the Humble Address and (b) Cabinet Secretary’s review into Lord Mandelson.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Government is committed to complying with the Humble Address. Departments have been instructed to retain and provide to the Cabinet Office all information that falls in scope of the Humble Address motion.
The former Cabinet Secretary was asked to review available information regarding Peter Mandelson’s contacts with Jeffrey Epstein during his period as a Minister. After an initial review of some documents, the matter was referred to the police. In light of the ongoing criminal investigation that was announced, that review has now been paused. The government is cooperating fully with the police investigation and providing any assistance required.
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: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Intelligence and Security Committee has authority to publish unredacted information from the Government response to the Humble Address if it disagrees with the Government’s proposed redactions.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
I refer you to the Oral Statement on the 23rd February and the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
The Government continues to work with the Intelligence and Security Committee and is grateful for its assistance on this matter.
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2026, to Question 107710, Erasmus+ Programme: Flags, whether separate EU communication and visibility rules apply to the Jean Monnet Actions programme.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Under the Erasmus+ Regulation, and as set out in the Erasmus+ Programme Guide, the same EU communication and visibility requirements apply to Jean Monnet Actions. Jean Monnet Actions are open to any eligible institution that chooses to apply for a Jean Monnet project and is successful in securing funding.
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2026, to Question 107710, Erasmus+ Programme: Flags, whether UK (a) schools, (b) teacher training and (c) universities will participate in Jean Monnet Actions programme, including (i) learning about the history of the European Union, (ii) promoting a shared EU identity and (iii) the 2026 thematic theme of "A resilient Single Market to boost EU enlargement as a catalyst for progress competitiveness”.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Under the Erasmus+ Regulation, and as set out in the Erasmus+ Programme Guide, the same EU communication and visibility requirements apply to Jean Monnet Actions. Jean Monnet Actions are open to any eligible institution that chooses to apply for a Jean Monnet project and is successful in securing funding.
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
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, whether the People’s Panel for Digital ID participants will be paid; what is the minimum page to participate on the panel; and what is the database that will be used for the civic lottery/sortition process to select the members.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Participants will be recruited through a process called sortition. This is a random postcode lottery. It is a way of selecting individuals to take part in deliberative processes, where everyone is given an equal chance to be invited. No individual can buy their way in or simply turn up at the event. All participants must be 18 or over to join the People’s Panel.
Participants are paid in line with industry standards. Payment recognises the time that people are giving up to take part and ensures that a diverse range of participants (e.g. including those on low-incomes, unemployed, with caring responsibilities, etc.) can participate. Payments are aligned to each workshop they attend, so may vary depending on attendance.
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the consultation paper on Digital ID, published on 10 March 2026, CP1498, which company will be administering the People’s Panel for Digital ID; and what cost the cost will be.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
We need to make sure digital ID works for everyone, and that’s why we’re establishing a People’s Panel on digital ID, which brings together a diverse group of people - selected to be broadly representative of the population of the UK - to consider different perspectives and debate trade-offs.
The People’s Panel will cost approximately £630,000 This will be covered under a pre-existing contract with Ipsos, which is the primary vendor, signed in March 2024. The vendor is a significant long-term government contractor, including under the last administration.