Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many Government Procurement cards have been issued to staff in her private office.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

2 Government Procurement cards have been issued to Private Office staff.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, which government departments have undergone efficiency assessments by the Office for Value for Money.

Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The Office for Value for Money is working with departments to root out waste and inefficiency. It will do this by working with departments to agree stretching and realistic technical efficiency targets, underpinned by robust delivery plans.

All departments and their arm's-length bodies are in scope for this piece of work.

The Office will target areas where it can have the most impact, rather than duplicating the work of others. It is the role of the Crown Commercial Service to review framework agreements.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what role the Office for Value for Money plays in assessing the efficiency of government procurement processes; and whether it has been involved in reviewing framework agreements.

Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The Office for Value for Money is working with departments to root out waste and inefficiency. It will do this by working with departments to agree stretching and realistic technical efficiency targets, underpinned by robust delivery plans.

All departments and their arm's-length bodies are in scope for this piece of work.

The Office will target areas where it can have the most impact, rather than duplicating the work of others. It is the role of the Crown Commercial Service to review framework agreements.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what consideration she has given to providing financial support to Bedford Borough Council for extraordinary expenses arising from the Cleat Hill gas explosion.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Bedford Borough Council submitted a formal request on 27^th March 2025 for Bellwin Scheme financial support for their immediate response costs arising from the Cleat Hill gas explosion that occurred in October 2024. We will now review the information provided by the Council and then decide what if any financial assistance may be provided through the Bellwin Scheme for the Council’s eligible costs in respect of this tragic incident.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 2.43 of the Spring Statement of 26 March 2025, what the £150 million provided for government employee exit schemes will be spent on; and how much and what proportion of this is for redundancy payments.

Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

As announced at Spring Statement the government has allocated £150 million for government employee exit schemes. Information can be found in the Spring Statement supporting documentation here:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67e3ec2df356a2dc0e39b488/E03274109_HMT_Spring_Statement_Mar_25_Web_Accessible_.pdf. This will be match-funded by a further £150 million from Departments.

Exit schemes will enable delivery of leaner, smarter, more efficient government, whilst delivering savings over the medium term.

Departments will bid for funding from this central pot in order to run exit schemes, and therefore the exact details of how this will be spent is not yet known.

Found: OUT0023 - Outside employment and interests Richard Fuller MP Written Evidence