Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many departmental Senior Civil Service away days have taken place in calendar year 2026 to date; in what specific venues; at what cost; and if there was any associated social or team-building activity at public expense.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
In the calendar year 2026, the Cabinet Office has not held any departmental Senior Civil Service away days.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how much her Department has spent on social media influencers since July 2024.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
Today’s media landscape is unrecognisable compared to even a decade ago, and the way the public receives information and communicates has changed drastically in this time.
The Government has a duty to engage with the public where they are, using channels and voices they trust to ensure all citizens can access government services, information and support - meeting audiences where they are.
The total spend is ÂŁ71,460.00 since July 2024. Please note this cost includes agency and wider fees, such as expenses.
Content Creators are paid fairly for their services, time and expertise in content creation. Their work reaches people directly on the channels they use daily. Without targeted campaigns, millions of citizens would miss out on services, rights, and support to which they are entitled.
The guidelines for influencer and content creator marketing were created by the Government Communication Service and first published internally in November 2023.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, further to the answer of 22 June 2026, to Question 10189, on Databases: EU law, if they will list the data and reporting requirements that the department must make to the European Commission and its agencies.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The UK and EU share information and data where it supports our mutual safety, security, and prosperity, as part of our broader cooperation on trade, the economy, and defence and security.
DCMS acts in accordance with the reporting and information-sharing provisions relevant to the Department. These provisions are set out in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement and the Withdrawal Agreement, including the Windsor Framework. These documents are publicly available.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what specific diversity and inclusion (a) days, (b) weeks and (c) months, were recognised and marked by (i) the department and (ii) each of its agencies, in the calendar year 2025.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra and its arm's-length bodies mark a range of external awareness days, weeks and months throughout the year. This provides the opportunity to raise awareness of different aspects of diversity and inclusion, and to support staff networks and wider engagement on these issues with our people.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the percentage of desks provided for staff is as a proportion of the total number of assigned staff in her Department's London headquarters.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
It has been the practice of successive governments not to comment, on grounds of both national security and staff safety, on the physical capacity or staffing numbers for individual buildings of the government estate.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what written representations have Ministers received from the Mayor of Greater Manchester since July 2024.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
It is not routine to disclose correspondence between Ministers or Permanent Secretaries and any individual or organisation.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department’s (a) Permanent Secretary and (b) Ministers have had correspondence with Flint Global since July 2024.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
It is not routine to disclose correspondence between Ministers or Permanent Secretaries and any individual or organisation.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what was the outturn spending by the department on communications, marketing and advertising in (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
DWP’s spend on communications, marketing and advertising is an important part of our duty to inform the public about essential policies and services that support people, including some of the most vulnerable, in their daily lives.
Our campaigns reach key audiences effectively and communicate a range of DWP campaign messages. For example, the Pension Credit campaign which informs people about targeted financial support available. Employment campaigns support customers to take up work and training opportunities. The Tell DWP Campaign is designed to address fraud and error in the benefits system.
Without targeted campaigns, millions of citizens would miss out on services, rights, and support to which they are entitled.
In financial year 2024 -25 the Department spent ÂŁ9.8m on marketing and advertising.
For financial year 2025-26 the data is not yet held by the Department, as the contract with the government’s media buying agency for the requested period has now ended.
Please note figures are rounded to nearest ÂŁ0.1m.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, how many Senior Civil Service away days have taken place in calendar year 2026 to date; in what specific venues across the Attorney General’s Office and each of its superintended departments; at what cost; and if there was any associated social or team-building activity at public expense.
Answered by Ellie Reeves - Attorney General
The Attorney General’s Office and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI) held no Senior Civil Service (SCS) away days in calendar year to date 2026.
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has held two SCS away days, held at the Civil Service Club. The total cost was ÂŁ1,390.75. There were no associated social or team-building activity at public expense.
The Government Legal Department (GLD) has held two centrally organised SCS away days. They were held at Herbet Smith Freehills Kramer LLP, Exchange House and at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. There were no costs attached for the venue or associated social or team-building activity.
The Crown Prosecution Service has held one SCS away day, at the Manchester Marriott Hotel Picadilly. The total cost of this event was ÂŁ37,367.60.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will list each industrial dispute live within her Department, including the nature of the dispute and level of industrial action.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
There are no live industrial disputes in DCMS.