Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the answer of 27 February 2026 to Question 113802 on British Business Bank, what the name is of the Aegon pension scheme and its default funds.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The British Business Bank’s workplace pension is provided by Aegon. Aegon Workplace Default (ARC) is the default fund.

Question to the Leader of the House:

To ask the Leader of the House, whether he plans to introduce a ban on second jobs for hon. Members.

Answered by Alan Campbell - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons

As outlined in our manifesto, the Government is committed to the principle that second jobs for Members of Parliament should be banned outside of very limited exceptions, such as maintaining professional qualifications.

The Committee on Standards is currently undertaking an inquiry into MPs’ employment and outside interests, and I look forward to working with the Committee as this work progresses.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 13 January 2026 to Question 102814 on Public Spaces: Political Activities, if she will make it his policy to investigate the use of a Public Spaces Protection Order by Leicester City Council to ban party political street stalls in the city centre.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides the police, local authorities, and other local agencies with a range of flexible tools and powers that they can use to respond quickly and effectively to anti-social behaviour. This includes Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) which can be issued by councils to stop people committing anti-social behaviour in a public space.

The powers in the 2014 Act are deliberately flexible in nature, and it is for local agencies to determine whether their use is appropriate in the specific circumstances of each individual case.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Lord Mandelson’s (a) salary and (b) allowances whilst a member of the Senior Civil Service were liable for income tax and National Insurance, and whether he was resident and domiciled in the UK for tax purposes.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The same tax rules applied to Mr Mandelson's remuneration as apply to all other permanent UK civil service staff working overseas on standard contracts for the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 12 March 2024 to Question 16665 on Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities: Offenders, whether Ministers are asked to declare a criminal convention when joining the Department.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

I refer the Honourable Member to the government’s response to his previous question of 9 December 2025, reference 96210.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Cabinet Office due diligence exercise for the appointment of Lord Mandelson as Ambassador to the United States considered (a) the Financial Times report entitled Links between Peter Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein detailed in JPMorgan report, published on 21 June 2023 and (b) the associated material on the Epstein-Mandelson relationship detailed in JP Morgan's Project Jeep released by the US courts, reference: Government of the United States Virgin Islands v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (1:22-cv-10904), District Court, S.D. New York, published on 20 June 2023, Exhibit 4.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what role Jonathan Powell, as national security adviser, had in the (a) advice to the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary and (b) due diligence, over the appointment of Lord Mandelson as Ambassador to the United States.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Prime Minister plans to appoint a permanent Chief of Staff.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

A complete list of Special Advisers is published on an annual basis in the Special Advisers Annual Report. It would not be appropriate to comment on individual staffing matters.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what her policy is on the annual uprating of fuel duty by inflation.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Rates will only gradually return to early 2022 levels by March 2025.

At Budget 2025, the Government extended the 5 pence–per litre cut for a further five months, until the end of August this year. The Government has also cancelled the increase in line with inflation for 2026/27; instead, rates will only gradually return to early 2022 levels by March 2027. The 5p cut was introduced at following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, when prices reached a peak of over £1.90 per litre.

Since Budget 2024, the Government's decisions to freeze fuel duty will save the average motorist over £90 – or 8-11 pence per litre – compared to the plans inherited from the previous government.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department had correspondence with Global Counsel between 10 February 2025 and 11 September 2025.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Yes. Cabinet Office are collating a cross-government response to the Humble Address related to Lord Mandelson and relevant papers will be provided to the House.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2026 to Question 101773 on Political Parties: Conferences, if she will set out the timetable for the (a) internal review and (b) consultation of relevant stakeholders.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office has now completed the initial scoping phase of the internal review and will shortly be reaching out to relevant stakeholders, including political parties, to arrange meetings in April to gather their views.

An internal report is expected to be completed by the end of May.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the written statement of 23 February 2026, HCWS1342, on Media Freedom Coalition, if she will take steps to protect British journalists from being (a) harassed and (b) intimidated by political actors in the United Kingdom.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the continuing absence of an apology from the leader of his party for her public attacks on the journalist Nadine White in January 2021, which led to extensive online harassment and abuse directed at Ms White, and which was condemned by organisations including the Society of Editors, the National Union of Journalists, the Resource Centre on Media Freedom in Europe, and the Platform to promote the protection of journalism.

By contrast, this Government is committed to upholding media freedom and ensuring journalists are able to operate without fear of threat and harassment, both in the UK and around the world. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office plays a role in the UK National Committee for the Safety of Journalists, which is led jointly at Ministerial level by the Home Office and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, and we are also co-chairing the international Media Freedom Coalition, as set out in my written ministerial statement on 23 February (HCWS1342).

Question

To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, who holds the accounts of APPGs no longer in operation and information relating to the winding up of their assets.

Answered by Nick Smith

The finances of an APPG are a matter for the officers of the group.

The Guide to the APPG Rules provides the following guidance:

80. APPG Secretariats must not hold APPG funds themselves, all funds must only be accessible by an officer (or officers) of the APPG.

81. Chairs are strongly advised to ensure that any money the group receives or holds is in a bank account in the name of the group and controlled by officers.

97. If an APPG chooses to disband, it must publish an income and expenditure statement within 28 days of the date on which the APPG was closed down.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of changes in Montenegro's money laundering legislation.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is committed to protecting the UK’s financial system and identifying risks to our system. The National Risk Assessment for money laundering and terrorist financing was published in July 2025 and assessed international risks the UK faces, including risks linked to the Western Balkan region.

The National Risk Assessment provides up-to-date risk information to enable the UK public and private sector to respond to evolving threats. The Government intends to develop a new public-private strategy focused on anti-money laundering and asset recovery in the coming months to respond to the risks identified.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2026 to Question 105914 on Cryptocurrencies, whether the Tether cryptocurrency is audited by any UK body.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Treasury is not privy to any information regarding Tether’s auditing arrangements.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to page 79 of the Budget Policy Costings 2025, published in November 2025, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the reduction of the Cash ISA limit to £12,000 on revenues to the Exchequer, separate to the other measures included in that estimate.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

At Autumn Budget 2025, the Government announced that the annual ISA allowance will be kept at £20,000 with the cash ISA limit set at £12,000 from April 2027 for under-65s. This is part of the wider strategy aimed at supporting people to get into investing, including Targeted Support, which will be available from April 2026. In addition, financial services firms will provide new, easily navigable ways for people to find the right UK investment for them.

The Government is introducing an age carve out for those aged 65 and above in recognition that they may need more flexibility in how they manage their savings as they approach retirement. Savers over the age of 65 will continue to be able to save up to £20,000 in a cash ISA each year.

The Exchequer Impact for the Reduction of the Cash ISA limit to £12,000 for under-65s from April 2027 measure in isolation is:

Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, with reference to the Electoral Commission, Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25, HC 1086, page 107, why the Electoral Commission has an independent adviser for equality, diversity and inclusion.

Answered by Jeremy Wright

The Electoral Commission does not currently have an independent Equality, Diversity and Inclusion adviser. The Commission appointed an independent adviser on EDI between September 2022 - September 2023.

The Commission's EDI Strategy is on the Commission's website. It outlines the equalities legislation that applies to the Commission, how it meets its duties, and how it strives to ensure electoral processes are open and accessible to all voters and campaigners.

Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 13 November 2025 to Question 89567, on Political Parties: Finance, what (a) advice and (b) guidance the Electoral Commission has issued on donations received through a personal services company.

Answered by Jeremy Wright

Donations received through personal services companies owned by a regulated donee are likely to be considered as being made to the regulated donee on behalf of the original donor. This is because donations to regulated donees includes anything given directly or indirectly to them through a third person under electoral law.

In these instances, the personal services company would be acting as an agent for the donation.

Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the answer of 11 December 2025, to Question 97793, on Reform UK: Cryptocurrencies, from what date have political parties been required to declare to the Electoral Commission donations that have been made via a crypto-currency or as a crypto-asset.

Answered by Jeremy Wright

The Commission has published guidance for political parties that are considering accepting cryptocurrency assets. It sets out that cryptoassets are considered property, which is in line with HMRC and Financial Conduct Authority guidance, and should be treated as a non-monetary donation.

It has always been a requirement for political parties to report the nature and value of non-monetary donations if they are greater than the reporting threshold (£11,800). The Commission’s updated guidance clarified that this applies to cryptoasset donations.

Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, if it will itemise each individual breach relating to the Labour Together fine from September 2021.

Answered by Jeremy Wright

Labour Together failed to deliver 27 donation reports within 30 days of accepting the donations. The donations amounted to £739,492. Labour Together was late in reporting all of these donations, ranging from 39 days late to 1,292 days late.

The organisation also inaccurately reported the value of a cash donation from an individual donor. The donation was initially reported as being £18,000 when it should have been reported as £20,000, so it was under-reported by £2,000. The non-compliance existed for three years and three months.

Labour Together also failed to appoint a responsible person within 30 days of each donation being accepted. No sanction was imposed for these offences due to mitigating factors.

Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission has produced guidance on how donations made in foreign currencies should be treated for the purposes of donation reporting rules.

Answered by Jeremy Wright

The Electoral Commission hasn't produced specific guidance on donations that are in foreign currencies.

Political parties must report the value of the donations in Pounds Sterling at the time of receipt if they are above the reporting threshold and check it for permissibility if it is above £500.

Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Parliamentary Parties Panel was consulted by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government prior to the publication of its policy paper entitled Restoring trust in our democracy: Our strategy for modern and secure elections, published on 17 July 2025.

Answered by Jeremy Wright

Questions about consultation on a UK Government document, as in this case, are a matter for the relevant Department.

Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, with reference to the urgent question of 23 February 2026, on Labour Together and APCO Worldwide: Cabinet Office Review, if the Electoral Commission will publish their internal report on Labour Together.

Answered by Jeremy Wright

The Commission does not publish internal documents relating to its regulatory work. It publishes information about recently closed investigations every month, including the possible offences it investigated, the outcome and any further action. An overview of the Commission’s investigation into Labour Together is listed under April 2021 – March 2022.

Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2026, to Question 116489, on By-elections: Gorton and Denton, if the Electoral Commission will make it their policy to issue a press release on the conclusion of any assessment it has made in relation to this by-election.

Answered by Jeremy Wright

Greater Manchester Police are currently reviewing allegations of electoral fraud at the Gorton and Denton by-election. The Commission is in close contact with the police and with the Returning Officer.

Once the review is concluded, the Commission will consider the outcome and any additional action needed.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what methodology the Animal and Plant Health Agency uses to determine the compensation value of poultry culled during avian influenza outbreaks; and whether this valuation is benchmarked against prevailing commercial market prices for equivalent birds.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Compensation is paid by Defra for animals culled by the Government for disease control purposes in England, as set out in the Animal Health Act 1981.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) makes its assessment of the disease status of the birds based on clinical inspection and veterinary judgment. There is no compensation available for sick birds or birds that have died. Compensation is not paid for consequential losses, including business interruption caused by control measures, nor for eggs or poultry meat.

The amount of compensation is established by APHA using the relevant valuation rate card (or for birds or husbandry systems not covered by the rate cards, by a specialist valuer). The valuation rate cards are updated by independent consultants five times per year (in January, March, June, September and November) to ensure rates are in line with average market values for the types of birds.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 25 February 2026 to Question 113793 on Diplomatic Service, how many Notes Verbale have been issued to China since July 2024.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer he references in his question.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 25 February 2026 to Question 113793 on Diplomatic Service, how many Notes Verbale have been issued to EU institutions since July 2024.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer he references in his question.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the then Deputy Prime Minister's Oral Statement of 25 March 2024 on Cyber-security and UK Democracy, Official Report, columns 1261 to 1264, what was the name of the Chinese state-sponsored group which undertook the cyber-attack.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The then Deputy Prime Minister’s Oral Statement of 25 March 2024 on Cyber-security and UK Democracy refers to two malicious cyber campaigns by Chinese state-affiliated actors: “first, compromising the United Kingdom’s Electoral Commission between 2021 and 2022, as was announced last summer, and secondly, by attempting reconnaissance activity against UK parliamentary accounts in a separate campaign in 2021”.

Attribution for cyber-attacks is a formal process. The Government will only attribute a cyber-attack to a specific actor when we are confident that we have the evidence to do so, and when it is in the UK’s national interest.

In the oral statement dated 25 March 2024, the National Cyber Security Centre attributed the second campaign to the Chinese state-affiliated cyber actor known as APT31.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what is the make and model of the safe used by the Cabinet Office Propriety and Ethics Team in 70 Whitehall.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

We do not comment on security matters.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the criteria are for the forfeiture of a (a) Ministerial and (b) civil service pension.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Information on the criteria for forfeiture of a Civil Service pension is provided on the scheme website within the Employer Pension Guide.

The Ministerial Pension Scheme is part of the Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund (PCPF) and there is no provision in the scheme rules for the forfeiture of benefits.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, who is responsible for his Department's review of Labour Together; or whether any Ministers has recused themselves.

Answered by Chris Ward - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Prime Minister asked civil servants in the Cabinet Office propriety and ethics team to establish the facts in relation to allegations concerning the former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State jointly in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Cabinet Office, Josh Simons MP. These facts were reported to the Prime Minister, who referred the matter to the independent adviser on Ministerial standards. The Independent Adviser’s subsequent advice to the Prime Minister is published on gov.uk

As a private organisation, any questions related to Labour Together are a matter for the board of Labour Together.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the (a) status is and (b) terms of reference are of his Department's review into Labour Together; who commissioned the review; who it will report to; and whether its findings will be published.

Answered by Chris Ward - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Prime Minister asked civil servants in the Cabinet Office propriety and ethics team to establish the facts in relation to allegations concerning the former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State jointly in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Cabinet Office, Josh Simons MP. These facts were reported to the Prime Minister, who referred the matter to the independent adviser on Ministerial standards. The Independent Adviser’s subsequent advice to the Prime Minister is published on gov.uk

As a private organisation, any questions related to Labour Together are a matter for the board of Labour Together.

Question

To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the answer of 17 July 2025 to Question 66189 on Written Questions, whether the House of Commons Table Office has an internal guidance document on the carding of written parliamentary questions.

Answered by Nick Smith

The Table Office cards questions which do not comply with the House’s rules of order. ‘Carding’ is essentially an invitation for the Member, or staff acting on their behalf, to call the Table Office to discuss and resolve the issue so the question can be swiftly tabled or, if necessary, withdrawn. The rules of order relating to questions are summarised in Chapter 22 of Erskine May which provides the basis on which questions are carded. The Office has various internal working documents and training materials providing guidance on operational matters including on questions, motions and the order paper.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had discussions with the Charity Commission on it making an assessment of whether IM01 LIMITED trading as Inter-Mediate, Charity number: 1143848, is undertaking (a) charitable activities and (b) commercial activities.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

DCMS has not had discussions with the Charity Commission for England and Wales regarding the activities of IM01 Limited.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether any gifts or hospitality given to the Deputy Prime Minister in a Ministerial capacity since July 2024 by Lord Alli have been returned or refunded.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

All gifts or hospitality received in a Ministerial capacity are declared in the usual way.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the publication of the remuneration of the Prime Minister’s Chief Economic Advisor on the Direct Ministerial Appointments portal, published on 24 February 2026, whether any special advisers are paid £151,778 or more per annum.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Special adviser salaries are published in the Annual Report on Special Advisers, which are published on GOV.UK. Current special adviser salaries will be published as part of the 2026 Annual Report for Special Advisers in due course.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists has assessed whether IM01 LIMITED trading as Inter-Mediate should be registered.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists is a statutory independent office holder, responsible for keeping and publishing the Register of Consultant Lobbyists. Requests for information can be sent to office@orcl.gov.uk

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the hon. Member for Makerfield is eligible for a Ministerial severance payment.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

No. Unpaid ministers are not entitled to a severance payment under the terms of the Ministerial and Other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991.