Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department had discussions with Lord Mandelson on defence procurement contracts between 10 February and 11 September 2025.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
As Ambassador to the United States, Lord Mandelson met regularly with senior officials to discuss a range of issues across the UK-US relationship, including opportunities for closer collaboration on technology partnership, AUKUS and other ways to deepen the UK-US bilateral relationship.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 11 July 2025 on Lancaster 2.0, HCWS812, if he will list each member of the new UK-France Nuclear Steering Board.
Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare
The UK France Nuclear Steering Group will be chaired by the Presidency of the Republic on the French side and by the Cabinet Office on the UK side. The steering group will be made up of senior officials from other Ministries and organisations as required. The first meeting will take place in the autumn, and it will meet regularly after that. Attendance shall be determined by the agenda items for each meeting; representation will vary accordingly.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 11 July 2025 on Lancaster 2.0, HCWS812, when the new UK-France Nuclear Steering Board will first meet.
Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare
The UK France Nuclear Steering Group will be chaired by the Presidency of the Republic on the French side and by the Cabinet Office on the UK side. The steering group will be made up of senior officials from other Ministries and organisations as required. The first meeting will take place in the autumn, and it will meet regularly after that. Attendance shall be determined by the agenda items for each meeting; representation will vary accordingly.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 11 July 2025 on Lancaster 2.0, HCWS812, how regularly the new UK-France Nuclear Steering Board will meet.
Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare
The UK France Nuclear Steering Group will be chaired by the Presidency of the Republic on the French side and by the Cabinet Office on the UK side. The steering group will be made up of senior officials from other Ministries and organisations as required. The first meeting will take place in the autumn, and it will meet regularly after that. Attendance shall be determined by the agenda items for each meeting; representation will vary accordingly.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 11 July 2025 on Lancaster 2.0, HCWS812, who will chair the new UK-France Nuclear Steering Board.
Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare
The UK France Nuclear Steering Group will be chaired by the Presidency of the Republic on the French side and by the Cabinet Office on the UK side. The steering group will be made up of senior officials from other Ministries and organisations as required. The first meeting will take place in the autumn, and it will meet regularly after that. Attendance shall be determined by the agenda items for each meeting; representation will vary accordingly.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the proposed remuneration package for the new National Armaments Director has been revised since the post was first advertised.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The salary for the National Armaments Director role remains as advertised.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the contract for the acting National Armaments Director has been extended in the 2025-26 financial year.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
Andy Start continues to be the acting National Armaments Director. The substantive appointment of the National Armaments Director is underway.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 7 January to Question 21331 on National Security Advisor: Pay, whether he plans to publish the Annual Report on Special Advisers before 22 July 2025.
Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare
The Annual Report on Special Advisers has been published on gov.uk.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 18 June 2025 to Question 58776 on National Armaments Director: Public Appointments, when he expects the permanent National Armaments Director to be in place.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
I refer to my answer given on 25 June to HC60825 and HC60826.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to ensure that people eligible for the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme receive payments in a timely manner.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The delivery of compensation is a matter for the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) as an operationally independent arm's-length body. As of 17 June, IBCA has contacted 1,707 people to start their compensation claim, and 1,346 have started the claim process. 462 offers of compensation have been made, totalling over £395 million, and so far 310 people have accepted their offers with more than £231 million paid in compensation. Going forward, IBCA is aiming to contact an average of 100 people to begin their claim every week. At that rate, they expect to have brought in to claim all those infected people who are registered with a support scheme this calendar year.
Whilst the roll out of the Scheme is an operational decision for IBCA as an independent body, I fully support their commitment to moving forward as swiftly as possible and as the Minister, I stand ready to help and assist in any way I can to speed up the payments. I am restless for the speed of delivery to increase, but I respect that operational independence going forward, as it is important that I do.