Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether any recommendations in relation to local government have been submitted to the Call for Ideas on the 7th National Action Plan for Open Government.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The call for evidence for the Seventh UK National Action Plan for Open Government received 17 ideas that specifically mentioned âlocal governmentâ. These are organised against different sub-themes such as open data, public participation, anti-corruption, and Freedom of Information. Further Information about themes and sub-themes are contained within ANNEX I: Detailed Theme Assessment Tables of the call for evidence outcome document.
We will look at the local aspect of sub-themes as relevant commitments are taken forwards.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to her Department's data entitled Public-sector trade union facility time data, for what reason Transport for London facility time expenditure and numbers are not listed in the 2024-25 dataset.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Transport for London did not submit their trade union facility time data for the year 2024-25 via the online reporting system.
The Trade Union (Facility Time Publication Requirements) Regulations 2017 required public-sector organisations to publish their facility time data. Under the previous administration, there was no penalty for organisations who did not submit their data.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office,âŻwhether the Government Property Agency plans to change policy guidance on toilets in departmental buildings in response to the (i) Supreme Court ruling of [2025] UKSC and (ii) implementation of revised 2024 Approved Document T: Toilet Accommodation building regulations, in relation to the (a) removal of legacy gender-neutral toilets on the government estate, (b) provision of separate single-sex toilets for men and for women and (c) provision of universal toilets in addition to separate single-sex toilets.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Government Property Agency is committed to ensuring that the portion of government estate it manages complies with all relevant legislation, including the 2024 Approved Document T and the April 2025 Supreme Court ruling in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers.
The GPA has updated its policy to ensure that both single-sex and universal welfare facilities are provided in all government workspaces and buildings that it manages. For capital projects and significant refurbishments, facilities are provided in line with the Government Workplace Design Guide V4.0.
Regarding legacy gender-neutral facilities (those that do not meet the requirements of a âuniversal toiletâ as described in Approved Document T) on the existing estate, the GPA is currently auditing these spaces on its estate and developing a programme for lifecycle replacement or refurbishment as required to align them with the updated guidance. The GPA is conducting proportionality assessments across its estate to determine necessary physical or signage changes.
The GPA mandates the provision of single-sex welfare facilities across its managed workspaces.
In addition to single-sex facilities, a minimum of one universal toilet-room will be provided in each GPA-managed building.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate the ONS has made of annual percentage increases in private sector rents in each nation of the United Kingdom in each of the last three years.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A response to the Rt. Hon Memberâs Parliamentary Question of 28 August is attached.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information her Department holds on the estimated change in private rent sector rents for an average (a) flat and (b) house, in (1) London and (2) England, since July 2024, in absolute cash and percentage terms.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)
A response to the Rt. Hon gentlemanâs Parliamentary Question of 28th August is attached.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what forecasts his debate has made of the level of (a) births and (b) deaths in United Kingdom over the next two decades, and the effect on the size and age profile of the domestic population, including the number of (i) working age citizens, (b) school-age children and (c) pensioners.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A response to the Rt. Hon gentlemanâs Parliamentary Question of 28th August is attached.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the No10 press release, Whitehall officials to be posted into mayors' offices as PM marks first month of No10 North, of 21 August 2026, if she will list each attendee of that No10 North virtual situation room meeting; what the terms of reference are of the situation room; and whether any council (a) leaders and (b) mayors were invited.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Details of meetings with external organisations are published routinely on gov.uk.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment has the Government Property Agency made of the number of government buildings which have gender-neutral toilets that are not fully enclosed self-contained universal toilets, and the number of such toilets in each building with them.
Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)
The GPA has completed an audit of toilet provision across its managed estate. This assessment confirms that all facilities designated as 'Universal Provision' align with the GPA design guide; these are fully enclosed, self-contained rooms intended for individual use, containing a WC, washbasin, and hand-drying facilities. The audit identified no instances of universal facilities that deviate from these standardsâspecifically, facilities that are not fully enclosed or not self-containedâwithin the assessed portfolio.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Equality Act 2010: Draft Code of Practice for services, public functions and associations, 2026, published on 21 May 2026, what steps the Government Property Agency is taking to make changes to toilets in government buildings.
Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government Property Agency (GPA) is taking a systematic, data-led approach to review and update toilet provision across the government estate that it manages. This work will ensure alignment with updated building regulations, the Supreme Court Judgement of April 2025 regarding biological sex, and the Equality and Human Rights Commissionâs (EHRC) updated Code of practice for services, public functions and associations.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what achievements the Council of the Nations and Regions has delivered; and how it has strengthened the English national identity.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds
The Council has met twice to discuss inward investment, trade, and AI. These meetings ensured we maximised the opportunity the 2024 International Investment Summit presented and identified areas for ongoing collaboration for AI adoption and data sharing. Alongside the second meeting, the Chief Digital and Chief Information Officers from across the devolved governments and Mayoral Strategic Authorities were brought together for the first time by the Government Digital Service to form collaborative partnerships. The Government is committed to ensuring the devolved governments and Mayoral Strategic Authorities in England are able to represent their interests in regular engagement, including intergovernmental forums.