Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what provisions are in place for employees of the Information Commissioner's Office based in Wilmslow who wish to remain located there.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Information Commissioner’s Office is independent of Government and reviewed a range of locations in deciding on its future office needs, including remaining within Wilmslow, to determine how it could best align with its strategic objectives. In particular it considered issues such as access to the necessary skills, the age and diversity of its existing workforce, and proximity to existing colleagues and transport hubs. Manchester city centre was evaluated as the top scoring location and Wilmslow was ranked second. On completion of the commercial analysis, the Circle Square Manchester option was lowest in cost on a lifecycle basis across the 10 years. This option also had better sustainability ratings than remaining in Wilmslow.
The Commissioner will retain 76 desks in Wilmslow until at least 2030 with a minimum daily footfall of 250 in Manchester. This is based on the majority of the ICO’s staff working from home more than one day a week as part of the organisation’s blended working arrangements.
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has updated guidance on the use of single-sex facilities in response to the Supreme Court judgement in the case of For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers of 16 April 2025.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We will review and update policy wherever necessary to ensure it complies with the latest legal requirements. We aim to ensure appropriate facilities are available for all staff.
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what stakeholders were consulted on the relocation of the Information Commissioner's Office from Wilmslow to Manchester.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Information Commissioner’s decision to relocate was approved by the Cabinet Office. As part of this approval process the Cabinet Office assesses any proposed lease of office space against value for money, efficiency, sustainability and increasing professional skills and expertise. It does not require consultation with local government, a separate economic assessment or an external consultation. Commercial confidentiality means we cannot reveal real estate costs without the agreement of the landlords but I can assure the Rt Hon. Member that the relocation represents value for money for the taxpayer.
The Commissioner consulted his staff and an external independent property agent. He also consulted other regulators about their experience of setting up a new office in Manchester and the Oxford Road Corridor Board about access to talent and alignment of objectives.
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether a consultation took place on moving the Information Commissioner's Office from Wilmslow to Manchester.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Information Commissioner’s decision to relocate was approved by the Cabinet Office. As part of this approval process the Cabinet Office assesses any proposed lease of office space against value for money, efficiency, sustainability and increasing professional skills and expertise. It does not require consultation with local government, a separate economic assessment or an external consultation. Commercial confidentiality means we cannot reveal real estate costs without the agreement of the landlords but I can assure the Rt Hon. Member that the relocation represents value for money for the taxpayer.
The Commissioner consulted his staff and an external independent property agent. He also consulted other regulators about their experience of setting up a new office in Manchester and the Oxford Road Corridor Board about access to talent and alignment of objectives.
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, who his Department consulted at Cheshire East Council on the relocation of the Information Commissioner's Office.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Information Commissioner’s decision to relocate was approved by the Cabinet Office. As part of this approval process the Cabinet Office assesses any proposed lease of office space against value for money, efficiency, sustainability and increasing professional skills and expertise. It does not require consultation with local government, a separate economic assessment or an external consultation. Commercial confidentiality means we cannot reveal real estate costs without the agreement of the landlords but I can assure the Rt Hon. Member that the relocation represents value for money for the taxpayer.
The Commissioner consulted his staff and an external independent property agent. He also consulted other regulators about their experience of setting up a new office in Manchester and the Oxford Road Corridor Board about access to talent and alignment of objectives.
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of closing the Information Commissioner's Office in Wilmslow on the local economy.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Information Commissioner’s decision to relocate was approved by the Cabinet Office. As part of this approval process the Cabinet Office assesses any proposed lease of office space against value for money, efficiency, sustainability and increasing professional skills and expertise. It does not require consultation with local government, a separate economic assessment or an external consultation. Commercial confidentiality means we cannot reveal real estate costs without the agreement of the landlords but I can assure the Rt Hon. Member that the relocation represents value for money for the taxpayer.
The Commissioner consulted his staff and an external independent property agent. He also consulted other regulators about their experience of setting up a new office in Manchester and the Oxford Road Corridor Board about access to talent and alignment of objectives.
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what the cost per square foot of office space occupied by the Information Commissioner's Office is in (a) Wilmslow and (b) Manchester.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Information Commissioner’s decision to relocate was approved by the Cabinet Office. As part of this approval process the Cabinet Office assesses any proposed lease of office space against value for money, efficiency, sustainability and increasing professional skills and expertise. It does not require consultation with local government, a separate economic assessment or an external consultation. Commercial confidentiality means we cannot reveal real estate costs without the agreement of the landlords but I can assure the Rt Hon. Member that the relocation represents value for money for the taxpayer.
The Commissioner consulted his staff and an external independent property agent. He also consulted other regulators about their experience of setting up a new office in Manchester and the Oxford Road Corridor Board about access to talent and alignment of objectives.
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has updated guidance on the use of single-sex facilities in response to the Supreme Court judgement in the case of For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers of 16 April 2025.
Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
We will review and update policy wherever necessary to ensure it complies with the latest legal requirements. We aim to ensure appropriate facilities are available for all staff.
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many staff network events took place in her Department in May 2025; and what the names of those events were.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
No staff network events took place in my Department in May 2025.
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many staff network events took place in her Department in May 2025; and what the names of those events were.
Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
There were nine staff network events run in the Department for Transport in May 2025. Four events took place within Department for Transport Core (DfTc) These were:
Two took place in Driver Vehicle and Licensing Agency (DVLA). These were:
Three events took place at Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). These were:
We have been unable to obtain information from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) in the time allowed. There were no staff network events held by our other agencies.