Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Written Statement of 21 July 2025 on Government of service, HCWS870, whether changes to the Business Appointment Rules will be retrospective.

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

The changes to the way the Rules are administered will come into effect on 13 October. The changes announced in the 21 July Written Ministerial Statement will not be applied retrospectively.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which public body is responsible for investigating corruption in government procurement.

Answered by Chris Ward - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Tackling corruption wherever it persists is a foremost priority for this government. One key step has been appointing Tom Hayhoe as the Covid Counter Fraud Commissioner, whose role includes a focus on the procurement of PPE during the Covid-19 pandemic. The government is also bringing forward the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill which, once implemented, will give the Public Sector Fraud Authority new robust powers to investigate fraud, including procurement fraud, across the public sector.

It is the responsibility of each contracting authority to investigate corruption in their own procurement processes; the Procurement Act 2023 places a duty on them to take all reasonable steps to identify and keep under review actual or potential conflicts of interest in their procurements.

The Procurement Review Unit within the Cabinet Office has responsibility for investigating contracting authorities’ compliance with the Procurement Act 2023 and investigating suppliers where their behaviour or circumstances mean that, potentially, they should not be allowed to participate in procurements or be awarded public contracts, for example because they have been convicted of certain bribery or fraud offences.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 15 July 2025 to Question 66653 on Military Aircraft: Costs, what the annual operating costs are of the Airbus A321-Neo aircraft, registration G-GBNI.

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

The annual fixed operating cost of the Airbus A321neo registration G-GBNI is currently £10.7m.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the official statistics publication entitled UK Public Survey of Risk Perception, Resilience and Preparedness 2025: Technical Report, published on 23 July 2025, for what reason data on gender was collected instead of data on sex.

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

The question used by our data supplier is in line with Office for Statistics Regulation and Market Research Society guidance, and is appropriate and proportionate for the research being conducted. We will continue to keep the survey questions under review.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if the Government will make it its policy to ensure that the former Deputy Prime Minister is not given a severance payment.

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

This Government has introduced reforms to Ministerial severance pay to ensure severance payments are proportionate and fair. These changes will come into effect from 13 October.

In the interim, while this is implemented, decisions as to whether a Minister accepts a severance payment is for the outgoing Minister.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Ministers are asked by (a) his Department, (b) the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Interests and (c) their Department whether they have a criminal record prior to their Ministerial appointment.

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

There is an established process in place for the appointment of ministers. Any conversations held take place in confidence. All ministers are expected to adhere to the high standards of conduct set out in the Ministerial Code.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Written Statement of 21 July 2025 on Government of service, HCWS870, if he will publish the audit findings by the Civil Service Commission on the application of Business Appointment Rules below senior levels.

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

The Civil Service Commission is operationally independent of Government. The publication of information about the Commission’s audit activity in respect of the application of Business Appointment Rules below the most senior grades will be a matter for the Commission.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Written Statement of 21 July 2025 on Government of service, HCWS870, whether he plans to reconstitute the Joint Operations Committee.

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

The Framework Document between the Cabinet Office, the Civil Service Commission, the Advisory Committee for Business Appointments (ACOBA) and the Commissioner for Public Appointments sets out the broad governance framework for the Independent Offices, including the role of the Joint Operations Committee established by those organisations.

The Framework Document will be updated to reflect the changes announced in the Written Statement on 21 July and will set out the governance arrangements of the Civil Service Commission and Commissioner for Public Appointments, following the closure of ACOBA.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Written Statement of 21 July 2025 on Government of service, HCWS870, who will be responsible for determining whether a former minister has seriously breached the (a) Ministerial Code and (b) Business Appointment Rules.

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

As set out in the Ministerial Code, the Prime Minister is the ultimate judge of the standards of behaviour expected of a minister and the appropriate consequences of a breach of those standards.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Written Statement of 21 July 2025 on Government of service, HCWS870, whether he plans to increase the remuneration for the (a) First Civil Service Commissioner and (b) chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life.

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

The remuneration of the First Civil Service Commissioner and the chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life will be set out in the annual reports and accounts for those organisations in the usual way.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the written statement of 21 July 2025 entitled Government of service, HCWS870, whether he plans to make any changes to the House of Lords Appointments Commission.

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

I refer the Hon. Member to the written statement by the Prime Minister of 19 June 2025 (HCWS718), which sets out the Government's position on appointments to the House of Lords, including the role of the House of Lords Appointments Commission.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 4 September 2025 to Question 70748 on Disinformation, what (a) outputs and (b) reports on disinformation have been produced by the Government Communication Service using the Storyzy service.

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

Government Communication Service (GCS) has not produced any standalone reports on disinformation using Storyzy.

The tool is used to assess factually incorrect information during crises or threats to national security/public safety that may require a government communications response.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Office for National Statistics has made a recent assessment of the Office for Budget Responsibility's GDP deflator forecasts.

Answered by Josh Simons - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 29th August is attached.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54804 on Public Bodies: Statistics, whether the (a) UK Statistics Agency and (b) ONS have reviewed the use of Social Time Preference Rate discounting by the Government in the context of the cost of the Chagos Islands deal.

Answered by Josh Simons - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 29th August is attached.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 22 August 2025 to Question 69070 on Syria: Inter Mediate, what meetings the Prime Minister’s National Security Adviser has had with Inter Mediate.

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

I refer the member back to PQ 73311.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 19 May 2025 to Question 51154, if he will publish the declaration by the Ambassador to the United States of America.

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

It has been the long-standing policy under successive governments to require ambassadors to declare personal or business interests and report gifts and hospitality. These declarations are reviewed internally on a regular basis.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 12 November 2024 to Question HL2064 on Diego Garcia: Military Bases, how many letters were sent between the two governments on the draft treaty that have not been published alongside the treaty.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

In line with the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, the government published the treaty and documentation required to inform the ratification of the treaty, including the full costs of the deal, on the day of signature.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish guidance for civil servants on conduct in the pre-election period prior to (a) UK parliamentary and (b) devolved legislature by-elections.

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

There are no plans to publish guidance for civil servants on conduct in respect of UK parliamentary by-elections or devolved legislature by-elections. The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants and civil servants are expected to adhere to these standards at all times.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the FOI Internal Review response IR2025/05101 of 29 May 2025, if he will make it his policy to reduce the size of the Government Communication Service.

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

The Government Communications Service (GCS) is in the process of completing its annual data collection of the Government Communications profession.

In GCS, we are constantly focused on providing value for money to the taxpayer. The Spending Review announced that all departments will reduce their administration budgets by at least 16% in real terms by 2029-30. Departmental comms teams are employed by their department who apply the Gov Comms standards and best practice to maintain the most efficient and effective operation.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Work Order for Project_7114 published on Contracts Finder on 9 July 2025, how value for money will be assessed in relation to (a) strategic storytelling, (b) coaching and (c) experimental design and evaluation referenced in the contract scope.

Answered by Josh Simons - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Test, Learn & Grow programme is modelling and scaling an approach to public service reform and mission delivery that closes gaps between policy, delivery and service users, and speeds up learning and improvement. Work is being delivered jointly by the Cabinet Office, MHCLG and local authority partners, complemented by a support partner, the Test, Learn & Grow Partnership. The value for money of the contract scope will be assessed both through comprehensive programme and place-level evaluations delivered by the Government Outcomes Lab at the University of Oxford, which is part of the Partnership, and through broader contract management and oversight by the Cabinet Office.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many civil servants in the (a) Cabinet Office and (b) Civil Service claim a London weighting on their salary, in the most recent period for which data is available.

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

The Cabinet Office does not have a London Weighting Allowance. There are separate London and National pay ranges. An individual’s pay, paid as a salary, is determined by the location of their designated office, as set out in their contract.

Decisions on pay, including London weighting, are delegated to individual departments for grades below the Senior Civil Service (SCS); data on London weighting is not collected centrally. The SCS pay framework is managed centrally and only operates a national pay range.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his planned timetable is for the next audit of the Government Communication Service.

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

The Government Communications Service (GCS) is in the process of completing its annual data collection of the Government Communications profession.

In GCS, we are constantly focused on providing value for money to the taxpayer. The Spending Review announced that all departments will reduce their administration budgets by at least 16% in real terms by 2029-30. Departmental comms teams are employed by their department who apply the Gov Comms standards and best practice to maintain the most efficient and effective operation.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what guidance the Government has issued on diversity network events taking place during work hours.

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

The Cabinet Office has issued an internal policy for Civil Service Staff Networks which includes information on the timing of diversity network events. The Policy states where possible events should be arranged outside of peak business activities and attendees would be expected to attend Network Events in their own time. Events that relate directly to a business outcome or to an individual’s learning & development could be attended in work time with the relevant approvals.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the written statement of 21 July 2025 on Government of service, HCWS870, whether the new rules on repayment of Ministerial severance payments will come into effect on 13 October; and whether the Deputy Prime Minister has now signed a waiver.

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

The reforms to ministerial severance payments, including the use of waivers, will take effect from 13 October.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Written Statement of 21 July 2025 on Government of service, HCWS870, what the line management structure of the (a) Ethics and Integrity Commission secretariat and (b) secretariat supporting the Independent Advisor on Ministers Interests will be; and whether those staff will report to a named senior civil servant in his Department.

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

I refer the member to the answer provided by Baroness Anderson on 6 August 2025 (HL9881).

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54761 on 9 Downing Street: Repairs and Maintenance, whether the OCS invoice for the No9 media room works has now been (a) received by the Cabinet Office and (b) paid.

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

I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 8 July 2025, Official Report, PQ 64569.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an estimate of the total cost of the Civil Service paybill in the (a) 2023-24 and (b) 2024-25 financial years.

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

Salary data for the Civil Service is published annually as part of Civil Service Statistics, an Accredited Official Statistics release, can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/civil-service-statistics-2025

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 6 January 2025 to Question 21256 on Government: Policy, what the total cost was for the Plan for Change event on 5 December 2024.

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

I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 6 January 2025, Official Report, PQ 21256.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the written statement of 21 July 2025 entitled Government of service, HCWS870, whether the Civil Service Commission will include political members nominated by the main political parties in the House of Commons.

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

As set out in the Written Statement of 21 July 2025, HCWS870, the Government has decided to close the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA) and to transfer its function to provide independent advice on the application of the Business Appointment Rules (BARs) in respect of the most senior civil servants and special advisers to the Civil Service Commission (the Commission).

The requirements for membership of the Civil Service Commission and the appointment of Commissioners are set out in the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 and do not include political members nominated by the main political parties.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the written statement of 21 July 2025 entitled Government of service, HCWS870, whether the Ethics and Integrity Commission will consider complaints relating to alleged breaches of ethics and integrity.

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

The Written Ministerial Statement "Government of Service", laid on 21 July 2025, outlines the role of the Ethics and Integrity Commission. Further detail on the Commission will be published when it becomes operational on 13 October 2025.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Government press release entitled Internship Scheme To Get More Working Class Students Into Civil Service, published on 1 August 2025, whether children of (a) House of Commons Ministers and (b) civil servants will be eligible to apply for the Summer Internship Programme in 2026.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

As we set out in August, we will be opening our Fast Stream Summer Internship Programme exclusively for undergraduates from lower socio-economic backgrounds for 2026. We will determine eligibility based on parental occupation at age 14 in line with guidance from the Social Mobility Commission and the Office for National Statistics definition.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answers of 4 July 2025 to Question 63007 on Government Departments: Equality and of 12 June 2025 to Question 54833 on Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Equality, whether he considers the appointment of the Diversity and Inclusion Manager in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to be consistent with the application of the ban on standalone Equality, Diversity and Inclusion roles.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Expenditure Guidance requires that departments consider whether any standalone EDI related roles should be incorporated into broader HR. Recruitment is a delegated matter where departments make their own decisions to reflect their individual circumstances.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 1 April 2025 to Question 40584 on 9 Downing Street: Media, if he will publish the (a) social value outcomes reports and (b) diversity reports from the last four quarters.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

OCS will complete their own Social Value Outcome and Diversity reports. The GPA does not have any other plans or routes to publish Social Value delivery or diversity reports.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost to the public purse was of each official reception in 10 Downing Street since 4 July 2024.

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

As under previous administrations, details of official receptions are published in quarterly transparency returns on gov.uk.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2025 to Question 37808 on Prime Minister: Recruitment, if he will list the job title of each position in the Prime Minister’s Office that was filled by exception since 4 July 2024.

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

As was the case under the previous Government, where over 9,000 such exceptions were used in the year ending March 2023, exceptions are a long-established part of bringing talent and expertise into the Civil Service. A list of appointments by exception (SCS2 and above) are published and updated on the Commission’s website available here: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/publications/pb2-recruitmentexceptions/

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the name of each of the Prime Minister's (a) special representatives, (b) envoys and (c) direct ministerial appointments who were in post on 2 September 2025.

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

The names of special representatives, envoys and direct ministerial appointments are published on gov.uk at the time of their appointment.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 37432 on Prime Minister: Communication, and with reference to the Cabinet Office FOI Internal Review response IR2025/05101 of 29 May 2025, for what reason the Answer of 19 March 2025 2025 to Question 37432 on Prime Minister: Communication states that there are 43 FTE civil servants in the 10 Downing Street communications team and the Government Communications Service audit states that there are less than 5 FT communications staff in 10 Downing Street.

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

The Government Communications Service audit provided in IR2025/05101 was a placeholder figure due to incomplete data. As caveated in the response to IR2025/05101, the GCS data collection is voluntary, and some organisations were not captured by this process.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the document entitled Statistical bulletin - Civil Service Statistics: 2025, published on 30 July 2025, for what reason the proportion of staff in his Department who have self-reported a disability have risen from 8.9% in 2015 to 16.9% in 2024; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of his Department's recruitment policies on the number of staff self-reporting a disabilitiy in this time period.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

The figures referenced are Civil Service wide, rather than Cabinet Office departmental statistics. The correct 2025 figure is 17.9%. This increase is most likely due to a range of activity conducted by departments to increase self-reporting rates as well as any recent recruitment activity.

Recruitment is delegated to departments. The Cabinet Office would not be involved in relation to the assessment of recruitment policies within departments. However departments should continually monitor impacts in accordance with the Public Sector Equality Duty.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 4 September 2025, to Question 70499, on Public Bodies: Unpaid Work, whether the parental occupations of a (a) tool-maker and (b) factory owner are deemed to be eligible working class socio-economic background for applicants to the Fast Stream Summer Internship Programme.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

As we set out in August, we will be opening our Fast Stream Summer Internship Programme exclusively for undergraduates from lower socio-economic backgrounds for 2026. We will determine eligibility based on parental occupation at age 14 in line with guidance from the Social Mobility Commission and the Office for National Statistics definition.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with which (a) external processors and (b) IT suppliers are (i) special category data and (ii) other personal data shared under the College for National Security Privacy Notice, published on 19 June 2025; and whether any data is stored outside the UK.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

No identifiable information is currently collected or stored by or with external processors or IT suppliers. Basic information required to allow courses to operate is stored on Cabinet Office systems and in line with information management best practice. As the College for National Security develops, personal data will need to be collected, managed and stored, and the College is currently considering how best to do that.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government Property Agency plans to install air conditioning in government buildings.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

In Government Property Agency (GPA) managed buildings we hold responsibility for the lifecycle maintenance and upgrade of office assets. This will include the replacement of heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) systems of buildings. When these assets reach the end of their serviceable life it is the GPA who will be responsible for replacing them in the most efficient manner. This will vary between buildings but will either be upgrading with the most efficient (HVAC) replacement available or the introduction of newer carbon friendly technologies such as air-source heat pumps. The final investment decision is based on longevity in the building, initial capital cost and the efficient maintenance and overall life running costs.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 31 July 2025 to Question HL9824 on Government Departments: Public Lavatories, when that guidance was last updated.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

The Government Workplace Design Guide was publicly updated in March 2022 and it is publicly available on gov.uk. The Government Property Agency's Inclusive Design Standards were published internally in March 2020 and is not currently available online.

Both the Government Workplace Design Guide and the Inclusive Design Standards are actively being updated and guidance relating to toilet provision in government hubs will be updated to align with the requirements of Toilet Accommodation: Approved Document T. The guidance will also be updated accordingly on receipt of further guidance from the Equalities and Human Rights Commission expected in the Autumn.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference his Department's document entitled Conflict Resolution Department (CRD) Conflict Resolution Programme, Annual review (D0006064) 400035, published in October 2024, in which countries Inter Mediate has (a) organised strategy sessions with foreign governments and (b) undertaken backchannel engagement with non-state armed groups; and if he will publish a list of countries in which Inter Mediate is commissioned to operate.

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

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office funds a number of different civil society and non-governmental organisations for its mediation and conflict resolution work. We have partnered with Inter Mediate for over 10 years to advance peace efforts in conflicts around the globe. We do not share details of the individual projects funded.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much his Department has paid to Inter Mediate since July 2024; and what (a) programmes and (b) purposes this funding was for.

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

For over ten years, Inter Mediate and the UK Government have successfully partnered to advance peace efforts in conflicts around the globe. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office funds a number of different civil society and non-governmental organisations for its mediation and conflict resolution work. We do not share details of the individual projects funded.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the iphones provided to No.10 staff use a Virtual Private Network.

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

It is a longstanding principle that for security reasons, it would not be appropriate to comment on 10 Downing Street’s IT systems.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information the Civil Service HR Secondments Unit holds on the number of secondments (a) into the Civil Service from outside organisations and (b) from the Civil Service to outside organisations.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

Secondments into the Civil Service from other sectors are a key route to bring essential skills and experience into the right roles and teams, enabling talented individuals from outside the Civil Service to contribute to the work of Government by sharing critical capabilities and innovative thinking for a set period of time.

A secondments data commission was introduced in April 2023 to provide insight on inward and outward secondments taking place across government. The Cabinet Office has worked closely with departments to increase the amount, detail and quality of the data available. Responses are now received from all ministerial departments. Data captured includes the number of secondments into and out of the Civil Service by Department, organisations seconded to and from, and secondees’ grades.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much his Department spent on (a) advertising and (b) other services for the recruitment of the Director of the Government Communications Service.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

The Department spent nil on advertising for the recruitment of the Director of Communications.

The competition was supported by Odgers: details of the contract award and value are available here: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/d8567b6f-e373-4d10-b258-4becc193c100

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the proposed new socio-economic duty will apply to the (a) Sentencing Council and (b) Parole Board.

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

The socio-economic duty will require specified public bodies to actively consider how their strategic decisions might help to reduce the inequalities of outcome associated with socio-economic disadvantage. We are currently working toward commencement of the duty, which includes drafting statutory guidance that will clarify how the duty can be applied effectively and include more detail on which public bodies the duty applies to.