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 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, 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 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, 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 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 £71,460.00 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 Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, 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 Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
As of Thursday 3 September, the Department for Transport has held 11 away days with different groups of senior civil service staff in 2026.
All events were held in accordance with departmental guidance and approval processes for away days. Departmental away days are intended to support business objectives, leadership development, strategy development, collaboration and organisational effectiveness.
Any expenditure associated with these events was met from departmental budgets and incurred in line with the Department's policies and controls on spending and value for money.
Date | Event | Venue | Cost (£) (excluding VAT) | Associated social/team-building activity funded by the Department |
Tuesday 27 January 2026 | DG Induction Day | DfT London office | £0 | No |
Wednesday 11 February | Corporate Delivery Group SCS Conference | DfT Birmingham offices | £328.96 | No |
Tuesday 3 March 2026 | DG Development Day | N/A | £1,440 | No |
Wednesday 4 and Thursday 5 March 2026 | All DfT Directors Event | The Terrace, Leeds | £6,145.50 | No |
Thursday 26 March 2026 | DfT all-SCS conference | Durbar Court, FCDO Building, King Charles Street, London | £8,683 | No |
Thursday 30 April 2026 | Public Transport Local Group directors away morning | Network Rail HQ, Waterloo (London) | £0 | No |
Tuesday 5 May | Major Rail Projects Group SCS Away Day | Old Oak Common
| £0 | No |
Tuesday 5 May to– Wednesday 6 May | Corporate Delivery Group Directors away day | DfT Birmingham offices | £271.42 | No |
Wednesday 3 June | DG Development Day | HS2 Office, London | £13,750 | Yes – workshop facilitated by The Forward Institute included session to enable new team to get to know each other better. |
Wednesday 15 July | Corporate Delivery Group Directors away day | KPMG Office | £0 | No |
Thursday 3 September | Rail Group Directors Planning Day | PWC Offices | £0 | No |
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 £9.8m 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 £0.1m.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, pursuant to the Answer of 4 June 2026 to Question 4161, on Government departments: marketing, how much has been spent on branded goods and merchandise by (a) the Attorney General’s Office and (b) each of its superintended departments since the Government Chief Commercial Officer letter was sent; on what items, and at what cost.
Answered by Ellie Reeves - Attorney General
The table below contains data for the Attorney General's Office and each of its superintended departments relevant to the question.
Total Spend on branded goods and merchandise
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