Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Conclusion of His Majesty The King’s free Portrait Scheme, published on 28 November 2024, what the percentage take-up rate was for (a) UK Government departments and (b) arm's-length bodies separately.

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

His Majesty The King’s free Portrait Scheme was a voluntary programme offering a free, framed portrait of The King to any eligible public institution that requested one.

Following the conclusion of the scheme, a breakdown of the take up was published on gov.uk.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what guidance has been given to Cabinet ministers by the (a) Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards and (b) Cabinet Office on whether Ministers who personally receive donations from trade unions (i) must and (ii) need not recuse themselves from (A) official government meetings and (B) decisions relating to those specific trade unions.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

As set out in the Ministerial Code, there is an established process in place for the declaration and management of private interests held by ministers. This ensures that steps are taken to avoid or mitigate any actual or perceived conflicts of interest. Any advice given to ministers as part of this process would be in confidence.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2025 to Question 54280 on Civil Servants: Pay, whether civil servants in her Department that are relocated outside of London will have their pay reduced; and whether civil servants employed in new locations outside of London will lose their London weighting.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer on 3 July (PQ 63008).

The Cabinet Office does not have London Weighting. There are separate London and National pay ranges. If an employee relocates from a London to National location on a voluntary basis, their salary would reduce to the equivalent point on the opposite pay range.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54828 on Civil Servants: Training, if he will publish the full training (a) documentation and (b) modules prepared for the course.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

It is not possible to share these products as they are interactive e-learning and videos that need to run on learning management systems. We would not publish learning content or materials themselves, as they might contain internal policy details, or intellectual property owned by a third party.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many exemptions have been approved for Permanent Secretary remuneration to exceed the band maximum since 4 July 2024.

Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Since 4^th July 2024, two Permanent Secretary roles have been approved to exceed the Permanent Secretary pay band.

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the transparency data entitled Cabinet Office: Government Procurement Card spend over £500 - December 2024, published on 30 January 2025, for what reason her Department spent £790.50 on 23 December 2024 with Karen Newby Ltd under the category of interpretation.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Following the British Sign Language (BSL) Act coming into force in April 2022, which legally recognises BSL as a language of England, Scotland and Wales, a non-statutory BSL Advisory Board of 17 predominantly BSL users was established to advise the Government on matters of importance to Deaf people and on the implementation of the BSL Act. This payment represents a fee for British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation services to support the smooth running and accessible communication for the quarterly BSL Advisory Board meeting that took place in person on 6 November 2024.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54812 on Government Departments: media, if he will list the 180 companies that expressed an interest in providing external public relations under the RM6364 Media and Creative Framework.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The procurement process under RM6364 Media and Creative Framework is currently live. As such, we are unable to disclose details of the interest expressed by individual companies at this stage, as doing so would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of the Crown Commercial Service and the bidders engaged in the bidding process. Further information will be made available in accordance with procurement confidentiality and competition rules as the process progresses. The agreement is due to be awarded in December 2025.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 17 June 2025 to Question 59366 on Cabinet Office: staff, whether his Department has a target for (a) voluntary and (b) compulsory exits; and what communications have been sent to civil servants on this matter.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

As set out in the Answer of 17 June 2025 to Question 59366, in line with the 2025 Spending Review, we are restructuring the Cabinet Office into a more strategic, specialised, and smaller department to achieve £110 million in annual expenditure savings by the 2028/29 financial year. Our focus is on identifying budgetary savings rather than meeting a specific headcount target.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse for Senior Civil Service pay in the (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26 financial years.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The latest paybill information for the Senior Civil Service can be found in the 2025/26 annual report by the Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB).

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54822 on Cabinet Office: Directors, whether Baroness Casey will be a member of the Cabinet Office Board.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

I refer the Hon. member to PQ 54822.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 12 May 2025 to Question 49382 on 9 Downing Street: Repairs and Maintenance, whether the relevant narrative entry in the transparency data will show which OCS invoice relates to the refurbishment of the Downing Street media room.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Government Property Agency is awaiting OCS' submission of an application for payment for the costs for the 9DS Media Suite.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 13 June 2025 to Question 57252 on Arms Length Bodies: Parliamentary Scrutiny, whether written Parliamentary Questions on the work of (a) public corporations and (b) private companies owned by the Government are expected to be answered by (i) the sponsoring minister or (ii) through correspondence from the Chief Executive of that body.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Written Parliamentary Questions about specific arm’s-length entities, including public corporations or government-owned companies, should be directed to the relevant sponsoring department. The arrangements for answering such questions are a matter for sponsoring departments to agree in consultation with individual arm’s length entities.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2025 to Question 62624 on Public Buildings: Concrete, which three Government Property Agency buildings have been found to have reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Due to operational and security sensitivities, we do not disclose sites in which Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete is present.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2025 to Question 62283 on Cabinet Office: Pay, whether the Civil Service Statistics 2025 document will publish the annual wage costs of the EU relations secretariat.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Salary data for the Civil Service is published annually as part of Civil Service Statistics. This statistical bulletin presents mean and median salary data for Civil Service departments and their Executive Agencies overall. A detailed breakdown for the structure and associated payscales for the European Relations Secretariat is available as part of the Cabinet Office organogram of Staff Roles & Salaries on gov.uk.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information her Department holds on who the members are of the Royal Mint (a) sub-committee on the selection of themes and (b) advisory committee.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Royal Mint Advisory Committee (RMAC) is an advisory non-departmental public body that advises the Chancellor of the Exchequer (in her capacity as Master of the Royal Mint) and HM The King on matters of design with respect to circulating and commemorative coins. RMAC exists to promote numismatic (i.e. the study of coins) and – more broadly - medallic art in the UK, ensuring designs meet high standards of decency and good taste. Non-executive members of the Committee are unremunerated Crown appointments.

RMAC typically comprises four Royal Mint executive members, seven non-executive members including the current Chair, Baroness Stuart of Edgbaston, a representative from HM Treasury and experts in art, design, heraldry, typography, sculpture, history and numismatics. Currently the RMAC comprises of three non-executive members and nine executive members; more information can be found on the Royal Mint Museum's website: Royal Mint Advisory Committee.

RMAC’s Sub-Commitee on the Selection of Themes, chaired by Baroness Stuart, brings together at least two non-executive members of RMAC alongside a representative from HM Treasury and The Royal Mint to examine proposed themes for future commemorative and circulating coins, making recommendations to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

HM Treasury is currently running a public appointments campaign to appoint four non-executive members to RMAC: a generalist, artist, art historian and lettering expert. Confirmation of these appointments will be made in the autumn.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department is (a) (i) represented on and (ii) consulted by and (b) able to veto the decisions of the Bank of England's Banknote Character Advisory Committee.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The roles and responsibilities for the production and issuance of banknotes are detailed in the Currency and Bank Notes Act 1954 and the 2025 Memorandum of Understanding on the financial relationship between HM Treasury and the Bank of England.

The Bank of England is responsible for all aspects of the design, production, and issuance of banknotes, including the selection of characters, design features, and security measures. The Bank of England is required to seek HM Treasury approval only for the introduction of new denominations, as set out in section 1(1) of the Currency and Bank Notes Act 1954 and Section 9C of the Memorandum of Understanding. The Bank of England may keep HM Treasury informed of developments on a non-statutory, informal basis, but there is no requirement for consultation with HM Treasury on matters of design or character selection.

As a consequence, HM Treasury is not represented on the Bank of England’s Banknote Character Advisory Committee.

The 2025 Memorandum of Understanding can be found here:

Financial relationship between HM Treasury and the Bank of England Memorandum of Understanding

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference page 26 of the National Security Strategy 2025, CP 1338, published on 24 June 2025, what his Department's planned timetable is the publication of the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill; and what plans he has for (a) pre-legislative scrutiny and (b) consultation in relation to that Bill.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill was announced at the King’s Speech. It will be introduced in this session of Parliament, as soon as parliamentary time allows.

The previous government consulted on the majority of measures in 2022, which demonstrated significant support. We published a policy statement in April detailing our plans for the Bill.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, Pursuant to the Answer of 26 June 2025 to Question 60479 on Deputy Prime Ministers: Official Residences, whether broadband is provided to the ministerial residence.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

We do not routinely set out what services are provided at official residences, as doing so might compromise their security.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 21 May 2025 to Question HL7244 on Prime Minister: Staff, when the No10 Implementation Unit was disbanded; and whether it was replaced.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

There has not been an Implementation Unit in 10 Downing Street for at least 15 years. It would not be appropriate to comment on the decision made by a previous government to disband the unit. This Government has established the Mission Delivery Unit.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 26 June 2025 to Question 62083 on House of Lords Appointments Commission, for what reason the competition to recruit members of the House of Lords Appointments Commission is not listed on webpage on gov.uk entitled Apply for a public appointment.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The campaign to recruit up to two independent members to the House of Lords Appointments Commission was launched on 3 January 2025. The competition then closed on 5 February 2025. As such, it is no longer open to new applicants.

The advert can be found on the public appointments website: https://apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/roles/8519

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the (a) address and (b) building condition metric of central government buildings.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

As has been longstanding practice under successive administrations, on security and operational grounds, details of specific central government building addresses and conditions are not published. However, The State of the Estate report containing the aggregated insights across government estate is laid before parliament on an annual basis.

The Cabinet Office is currently working on plans to publish aggregate building condition data and insights for the reporting period of FY2026/27.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has issued guidance to Ministers on attending office workplaces during periods of strike action.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

No such guidance has been issued by the Cabinet Office.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 29 January 2025 to Question 25449 on Government Communication Service, what his Department's planned timetable is for publishing its review of the size of the Government Communications Service as part of Phase 2 of the Spending Review.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Government Communications Service (GCS) regularly evaluates communications teams to ensure value for money and operational effectiveness. GCS is currently recruiting a Director of Government Communications who will lead the redesign of the service to ensure it reflects both the evolving communications landscape and government priorities.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she is taking steps to help ensure that SME firms with defence contracts are not de-banked by financial institutions.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The government recognises that access to banking services is vital for people and businesses across the UK. It is this government's firm position that no firm should be denied access to banking services solely on the grounds they work in defence. The upcoming Defence Industrial Strategy will have SMEs at its heart, and will lay out the steps we are taking as government to support defence SMEs.

The government has already legislated to strengthen protections for customers. From April 2026, banks and other providers will be required to give customers a longer notice period of at least 90 days and to provide customers with a sufficiently detailed and specific explanation before they terminate services. This will give people and businesses the time and information they need to challenge decisions or find an alternative provider.

We continue to monitor wider access to bank account provision but recognise this is largely a commercial matter. Firms have strict obligations to ensure the legitimacy of a business and protect against financial crime.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on the licensing and regulation of animal rescue and rehoming centres.

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

Animal welfare is a devolved matter in the UK. This means that responsibility for animal welfare policy in the individual nations is the responsibility of the relevant nations’ Ministers.

However, Defra works closely with the devolved Governments on a range of shared priorities and will discuss any relevant matters as necessary.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on the licensing and regulation of animal rescue and rehoming centres.

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

Animal welfare is a devolved matter in the UK. This means that responsibility for animal welfare policy in the individual nations is the responsibility of the relevant nations’ Ministers.

However, Defra works closely with the devolved Governments on a range of shared priorities and will discuss any relevant matters as necessary.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on the licensing and regulation of animal rescue and rehoming centres.

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

Animal welfare is a devolved matter in the UK. This means that responsibility for animal welfare policy in the individual nations is the responsibility of the relevant nations’ Ministers.

However, Defra works closely with the devolved Governments on a range of shared priorities and will discuss any relevant matters as necessary.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether board appointments to the National Data Library will be included in the Public Appointments Order in Council; and whether the chair for the National Data Library will be classified as a significant appointment.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The National Data Library remains under policy development. Any public appointments related to the National Data Library would follow due processes and be subject to the Governance Code for Public Appointments.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the cancellation of the communications campaign entitled, Better Health - Every Mind Matters: Loneliness, on mental health outcomes.

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

Whilst the Better Health - Every Mind Matters: Loneliness campaign is no longer running, information, advice and signposts to organisations which can support people experiencing loneliness remains available on the Better Health – Every Mind Matters website. The website receives an average of over 150,000 visits per month. In the last full year, this figure exceeded two million visits. Indicative evidence demonstrates that Better Health-Every Mind Matters is improving the nation’s mental health and wellbeing; 2 in 3 of those who complete the Mind Plan email programme report measurably better wellbeing than when they started.

In addition, a campaign toolkit on loneliness for use by local authorities, NHS organisations and community groups is available on the Department of Health and Social Care’s Campaign Resource Centre. The toolkit includes key messages and social media assets that can be used in locally-run campaigns.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54820 on Civil Service: Equality, if he will make it his policy to (a) publish the new network guidance on gov.uk and (b) place it in the House of Commons Library once finalised.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Guidance for Civil Service Staff Networks is in development. This will be internal guidance which is not usually published.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the entry in his Department's publication entitled Cabinet Office Commercial Pipeline 2024-26, of 31 October 2024 P2465: CO COMMERCIAL: Venue Booking Services, who the supplier is of those services.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Calder Conferences Limited is the current supplier providing Venue Booking Services to the Cabinet Office. This contract started in February 2023 under the previous administration.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 2 July 2025 to Question 62346 on Postage Stamps, whether his Department hold copies of the (a) agenda (b) minutes and (c) papers of the Royal Mail’s stamp advisory committee.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Stamp Advisory Committee advises Royal Mail on future stamp designs. The Postal Museum’s online catalogue lists copies of Stamp Advisory Committee minutes which are available to the public for research in line with Royal Mail’s retention policy.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54825 on Government Departments: Training, if he will publish the updated guidance on the use of external venues.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

A copy of the Cabinet Office's guidance on the use of external venues will be placed in the libraries of both Houses.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2025 to Question 53901 on Data, Statistics and Research on Sex and Gender Independent Review, how the UK Statistics Authority plans to inform (a) Parliament and (b) the public of whether the recommendations in the Review will be taken forward once the Authority Board has concluded its considerations of the Review.

Answered by Georgia Gould - 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 2nd July is attached.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 12 June 2025 to Question 57394 on Fly-tipping, what discussions his Department had with local authorities prior to the press notice of 29 April 2025.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra officials have regular discussions with local authorities, including through the Defra chaired National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group (NFTPG). Through this group we work with a wide range of stakeholders to promote and share good practice on tackling fly-tipping, including local authority use of enforcement powers such as vehicle seizure.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 2 July 2025 to Question 62768 on Pay: Publicity, what the aggregate value was of the payments to the six digital influencers; and if he will name those influencers.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Influencer marketing is a credible paid communications channel, which is considered for government advertising campaigns and can be an effective way in reaching audiences that the Government and traditional marketing channels find hard to reach.

We used this channel to raise awareness of the new National Minimum and Living Wage rates to ensure audiences such as young people, part-time female workers, ethnic minorities and disabled groups are paid correctly.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54808 on Civil Service: Photographs and Video Recordings, whether unpublished content can be used by Ministers for party political purposes.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

I refer the Hon Member for Basildon and Billericay to the answer on 9 June 2025 (PQ54808).

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 1 July 2025 to Question 63032 on National Security: Expenditure, if she will publish the NATO reporting guidelines.

Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

NATO has a common definition of defence expenditure that is agreed by all NATO allies.

The definition of NATO defence expenditure, and the recently announced defence and security related spending, can be found on the NATO website.

NATO - Topic: Defence expenditures and NATO’s 5% commitment

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of discontinuing unconscious bias training.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The decision to discontinue unconscious bias training was made in 2020 under the previous administration. No subsequent assessment of the policy has since been made.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 28 May 2025 to Question 53204 on Central Government: Empty Property, whether the InSite database is accessible to the public.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The InSite database is an internal government system and is not accessible to the public. While the data held in InSite informs public outputs such as official reports, the platform itself is not publicly available due to data protection, security, and operational sensitivity considerations.

Members of the public can view information on vacant or surplus government-owned properties via the Government Property Finder: https://www.gov.uk/find-government-property

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether appointments to the School Support Staff Negotiating Body will be included in the Public Bodies Order in Council; and whether the chair appointment will be classified as a Significant Appointment.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)

The Chair of the School Support Staff Negotiating Body will be appointed in line with normal practice and the Governance Code on Public Appointments with guidance from the department’s Public Appointments Team.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54760 on Civil Servants: London, whether he plans to require any civil servants based in London to compulsorily relocate as part of the Places for Growth scheme.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

London-based civil servants will not be required to compulsorily relocate as part of Places for Growth. Role relocations will occur predominantly through churn and some London-based civil servants may choose to voluntarily relocate.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2025 to Question 54274 on Government Departments: Publicity, if he will publish the spending control business case and approval for the 2025 National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage campaign.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 28^th May 2025 to question 52688 (Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament).

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the annual operating costs are of the (a) RAF Envoy IV with registrations (i) G-ZAHS and (ii) G-ZABH, (b) VIP Voyager with registration ZZ336 and (c) Airbus A321-Neo with registration G-GBNI.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Envoy aircraft operating costs are currently £4.4 million per year, contracted through Centreline Av Ltd.

The operating costs of Voyager ZZ336 in its secondary role of VIP use are not separately recorded within the wider 27-Year AirTanker contract for the Voyager fleet's primary role of Air-to-Air Refuelling and military Air Transport.

The Airbus A321-Neo aircraft, registration G-GBNI is leased by the Cabinet Office not the Ministry of Defence.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54812 on Government Departments: media, what guidance is issued by the Government Communication Service on the procurement of external public relations companies.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) provides a framework agreement that enables contracting authorities to access suppliers who provide services in this area. As with any procurement through established framework agreements, CCS provides guidance to ensure any procurement is conducted in compliance with UK procurement regulations. Guidance can be found on the CCS webpage: https://www.crowncommercial.gov.uk/agreements/RM6125.

Individual contracting authorities are responsible for their own procurement processes under this framework agreement. Any campaign spending of £100,000 or more must go through the Government Communication Service’s advertising, marketing and communications (AMC) spend control process. Guidance is available at the following link: https://gcs.civilservice.gov.uk/guidance/marketing/delivering-government-campaigns/professional-assurance/

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 6 June 2025 to Question 54789 on Government Hospitality: Wines, whether alcohol from the Government Wine Cellar has been consumed at any other event by (a) 10 and (b) 11 Downing Street since 4 July 2024.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Alcohol from the Government Wine Cellar was served at the following events by a) 10 and b) 11 Downing Street since 4 July 2024:

18 July 2024: Dinner for the President of France hosted by the Prime Minister at the European Political Meeting.

4 February 2025: Dinner for the Danish Prime Minister hosted by the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street.

14 May 2025: Reception for the Governors of the Economic Bank for Reconstruction and Development hosted by the Chancellor of the Exchequer at Lancaster House.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, Pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2025 to Question 39690 on Military Aircraft: Ministers, what is the definition of a task; and whether this involves a one-way or return journey.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

A task can include multiple legs between the point of departure and the final destination.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 1 July 2025 to Question 62339 on Aviation, which Departments have used the Airbus A321-253NX with registration G-OATW.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Since assuming the registration G-OATW in October 2023, the aircraft has been chartered under various contracts with other government departments to support their official business. However, this data is not held by the Cabinet Office, as each department is responsible for its own contracting arrangements.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2025 to Question 62771 on Cabinet Office: Maray Restaurant, if he will publish that invoice.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

In line with the approach of successive administrations, Government Procurement Card spend data over £500 is declared in relevant transparency publications.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 1 July 2025 to Question 62084 on Government Departments: Procurement, which public bodies have undertaken expenditure through framework RM6125 since 4 July 2024.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Information on individual contracts, including any agreed through a Crown Commercial Service framework, are publicly available on Contracts Finder at the following link: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk. Contracts Finder provides information about contracts worth over £12,000 (including VAT) with the government and its agencies.

It is the responsibility of the relevant contracting authority to upload contract information on Contracts Finder.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to page 185 of the report entitled Census 2021: General report for England and Wales, published on 21 June 2025, which local authorities had a confidence interval of (a) up to 5%, (b) up to 6% and (c) 6% or more.

Answered by Georgia Gould - 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 10th July is attached.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the UK Statistics Authority and Cabinet Office response to the Devereux Review, published on 26 June 2025, what plans he has to publish a response to each recommendation of the Devereux Review.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The UK Statistics Authority and Cabinet Office response to the Devereux Review was published on 26 June. A further announcement was made on 7 July regarding the timeline for appointing new leadership to both the UK Statistics Authority and the Office for National Statistics.

While there are no plans to publish further responses, additional updates may be announced as and when deemed appropriate.

The Government welcomes the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee's inquiry into the UK Statistics Authority, launched earlier this year, and looks forward to engaging with the Committee.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that patients who pursue non-NHS ADHD treatment are not disadvantaged in accessing (a) ongoing and (b) future NHS treatment.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department has not issued guidance to integrated care boards (ICBs) or general practices (GPs) on supporting patients with private attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnoses to transition into National Health Service care.

It is the responsibility of the ICBs in England to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including access to ADHD services, in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.

Shared care with the NHS refers to an arrangement whereby a specialist doctor formally transfers responsibility for all or some aspects of their patient’s care, such as prescription of medication, over to the patient’s GP.

The General Medical Council (GMC), which regulates and sets standards for doctors in the United Kingdom, has made it clear that GPs cannot be compelled to enter into a shared care agreement. GPs may decline such requests on clinical or capacity grounds.

The GMC has issued guidance on prescribing and managing medicines, which helps GPs decide whether to accept shared care responsibilities. In deciding whether to enter into a shared care agreement, a GP will need to consider a number of factors such as whether the proposed activity is within their sphere of competence, and therefore safe and suitable for their patient’s needs. This includes the GP being satisfied that any prescriptions or referrals for treatment are clinically appropriate.

If a shared care arrangement cannot be put in place after the treatment has been initiated, the responsibility for continued prescribing falls upon the specialist clinician, and this applies to both NHS and private medical care.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with NHS England on the adequacy of the consistency of shared care prescribing arrangements for ADHD medication in each Integrated Care Board.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department has not issued guidance to integrated care boards (ICBs) or general practices (GPs) on supporting patients with private attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnoses to transition into National Health Service care.

It is the responsibility of the ICBs in England to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including access to ADHD services, in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.

Shared care with the NHS refers to an arrangement whereby a specialist doctor formally transfers responsibility for all or some aspects of their patient’s care, such as prescription of medication, over to the patient’s GP.

The General Medical Council (GMC), which regulates and sets standards for doctors in the United Kingdom, has made it clear that GPs cannot be compelled to enter into a shared care agreement. GPs may decline such requests on clinical or capacity grounds.

The GMC has issued guidance on prescribing and managing medicines, which helps GPs decide whether to accept shared care responsibilities. In deciding whether to enter into a shared care agreement, a GP will need to consider a number of factors such as whether the proposed activity is within their sphere of competence, and therefore safe and suitable for their patient’s needs. This includes the GP being satisfied that any prescriptions or referrals for treatment are clinically appropriate.

If a shared care arrangement cannot be put in place after the treatment has been initiated, the responsibility for continued prescribing falls upon the specialist clinician, and this applies to both NHS and private medical care.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance his Department has issued to (a) ICBs and (b) GP practices on supporting patients with private ADHD diagnoses to transition into NHS care.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department has not issued guidance to integrated care boards (ICBs) or general practices (GPs) on supporting patients with private attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnoses to transition into National Health Service care.

It is the responsibility of the ICBs in England to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including access to ADHD services, in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.

Shared care with the NHS refers to an arrangement whereby a specialist doctor formally transfers responsibility for all or some aspects of their patient’s care, such as prescription of medication, over to the patient’s GP.

The General Medical Council (GMC), which regulates and sets standards for doctors in the United Kingdom, has made it clear that GPs cannot be compelled to enter into a shared care agreement. GPs may decline such requests on clinical or capacity grounds.

The GMC has issued guidance on prescribing and managing medicines, which helps GPs decide whether to accept shared care responsibilities. In deciding whether to enter into a shared care agreement, a GP will need to consider a number of factors such as whether the proposed activity is within their sphere of competence, and therefore safe and suitable for their patient’s needs. This includes the GP being satisfied that any prescriptions or referrals for treatment are clinically appropriate.

If a shared care arrangement cannot be put in place after the treatment has been initiated, the responsibility for continued prescribing falls upon the specialist clinician, and this applies to both NHS and private medical care.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps she is taking to prevent solvent companies from using Company Voluntary Arrangements to avoid meeting their (a) redundancy and (b) notice period obligations.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Company Voluntary Arrangements (“CVAs”) are a restructuring process for insolvent or contingently insolvent companies. To be eligible, a company must meet the insolvent test as assessed by an insolvency practitioner and the CVA must be agreed by a majority of creditors and shareholders.

Where redundancies are necessary as part of a CVA, the Government ensures employees have appropriate safeguards through employment rights’ legislation. Redundancy payments (within statutory limits) are guaranteed from the National Insurance Fund. The Redundancy Payments Service makes these payments directly to the employees and will seek to reclaim the money back from the company as a creditor.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has provided additional funding to government departments to compensate public bodies for the increase in employer National Insurance contributions for each year of the Spending Review 2025.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

At Autumn Budget 2024 the Government set aside funding to support the public sector with the additional cost of employer National Insurance Contributions. The Government then updated Parliament on allocations by department for 2025-26 (published alongside Main Estimates 2025-26).

Spending Review 2025 departmental settlements fully reflect these changes for 2026-27, 2027-28 and 2028-29, with the Barnett formula applying in the usual way.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 30 May 2025 to Question 53535 on Arms Length Bodies, if he will list those delivery options.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The options referred to in that response, including delivery options for decarbonisation, are being finalised. Further information will be announced in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much air passenger duty was paid for ministerial domestic travel on RAF-provided flights between 4 July 2024 and 31 March 2025.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The total amount of Air Passenger Duty paid for Ministers who travelled on the RAF Envoy, on domestic flights, between 4 July 2024 and 31 March 2025 is £1,950.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the document entitled Committee on Standards in Public Life 334th Meeting, Thursday 15 May 2025: Minutes, published on 30 June 2025, if he will place in the Library a copy of the research paper by José Pedro Lopes of the University of Manchester.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Committee on Standards in Public Life is an independent advisory body. It is a matter for the Committee to determine the information it publishes.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has received any correspondence from external organisations on the Ethics and Integrity Commission since 4 July 2024.

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

The Cabinet Office regularly receives correspondence on a range of policy issues, including on manifesto commitments.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 2 July 2025 to Question 62332 on Civil Service: Redundancy, whether his Department has made an estimate of the potential number of exits under the Civil Service Compensation Scheme in each financial year until 2028-29.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Departments have been commissioned to provide information on their planned use of exits to inform the development of the Civil Service Strategic Workforce Plan, due to be published later this year.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will list the secretary to each Cabinet (a) committee and (b) sub-committee.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Cabinet Secretariat works on behalf of the Cabinet Secretary to support Cabinet committees. Cabinet committees are supported by the Economic and Domestic Affairs Secretariat, the National Security Secretariat and the European and Global Issues Secretariat according to the Terms of Reference of the committee.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many Universities have received emergency funding from the Government since 4 July 2024; and how much money has been provided as part of that process.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The government has not provided emergency funding to any university since 4 July 2024.

Universities are independent from government and as such must continue to make the necessary financial decisions to ensure their long-term sustainability. If a university was at risk of failure, the department would work with the Office for Students (OfS) to ensure that students are protected, recognising the significant impact university closure would have on their future. The government reserves the right to intervene to protect students’ interests, if necessary.

While the sector is autonomous, we are committed to creating a secure future for our world-leading universities.

To support universities in stabilising their financial positions, the OfS will continue dedicating significant resources to ensuring the sector's financial sustainability. The department has appointed Professor Edward Peck as the substantive Chair of the OfS, where he will play a key role in strengthening this commitment, while also expanding opportunities in higher education (HE).

Additionally, we have made the difficult decision to increase tuition fee limits by 3.1% (in line with inflation) from the 2025/26 academic year.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 8 May 2025 to Question 48185 on Government: Policy, whether Mission Champions may have access to internal government papers.

Answered by Ellie Reeves - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

I refer the Rt.Honorable Member to the response to PQ48185.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the document entitled Cabinet Office spend approvals: January to March 2025, published on 27 June 2025, what the purpose is of the Advertising, Marketing and Communications spending on Q4 mission activity; what (a) suppliers and (b) firms have been contracted to undertake this work; and what media channels will be used.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Q4 mission activity spend formed part of ongoing New Media Unit (NMU) work. The NMU utilises a wide range of digital and social media channels to reach target audiences.

The frameworks used for this spend were Campaign Solutions 2 (RM6125) and Media Services (RM6123).

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to page 186 of the Census 2021: General report for England and Wales, published on 21 June 2025, which local authorities had a response rate below 95%.

Answered by Georgia Gould - 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 9th July is attached.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how often the presumption of contact was disapplied in family court proceedings where (a) allegations and (b) findings of domestic abuse were present in the last 12 months; and whether her Department plans to publish data on how Domestic Abuse Protection Orders are being used to safeguard (i) survivors and (ii) children during ongoing family court contact disputes.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Data is not held centrally on how often the presumption of parental involvement is disapplied in family court proceedings under either a) or b). The relevant data could only be obtained by an analysis of individual case files at a disproportionate cost.

Domestic Abuse Protection Orders, known as DAPOs, can be made in ongoing family proceedings to protect victims from domestic abuse or the risk of domestic abuse. DAPOs are being tested in selected areas and will be subject to evaluation.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when her Department plans to publish its review of the presumption of parental contact in family courts; and whether that review will include consideration of disapplying the presumption in cases where domestic abuse has been evidenced.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The Review into the Presumption of Parental Involvement is now complete. The Review and the Government’s response and next steps will be published shortly.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the Government plans to commission an independent review of training for (a) family court judges, (b) Cafcass officers and (c) expert witnesses on (i) coercive control, (ii) post-separation abuse and (iii) the misuse of legal processes by perpetrators.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The Government currently has no plans to commission an independent review of training for family court judges, Cafcass officers and expert witnesses.

The judiciary is independent of the Government; under the Constitutional Reform Act 2005, the Lady Chief Justice has statutory responsibility for the training of the judiciary of England and Wales. This is fulfilled on behalf of the Lady Chief Justice by the Judicial College.

Cafcass is an independent Arm’s Length Body sponsored by the Ministry of Justice and is responsible for its own training. Cafcass Family Court Advisers complete mandatory domestic abuse training including on using Cafcass’ Child Impact Assessment Framework which has guidance and tools for assessing when domestic abuse is a feature of the child’s case, including when coercive control is present. Family Court Advisers are also trained to follow Cafcass’ Domestic Abuse Practice Policy which sets out the actions they must undertake when working with children and adults who have experienced domestic abuse

The annex to Practice Direction 25B outlines the standards an expert witness in children proceedings must adhere to. These include that they are appropriately qualified (where relevant), have sufficient experience of the issue on which they are to give evidence and undertake continuous professional development. It is at the courts’ discretion whether to give permission for the instruction of an expert; this decision is based on all of the information available to the court, including whether the expert has undertaken suitable training and qualifications.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the evaluation of the Pathfinder pilot family courts will be published in full prior to any national policy changes based on its findings.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The Government commissioned formal evaluation of the Pathfinder pilots in North Wales and Dorset in two parts. The first part was a process evaluation and financial analysis which was published in March 2025. The second part examines the experiences of children and families and will be published later this year.

The two evaluation reports are already informing policy and operational changes; and monitoring and evaluation of Pathfinder is ongoing. A feasibility study, to identify options for further impact and economic evaluation of Pathfinder, is underway and will be published later this year.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has issued guidance to civil servants on resigning if they disagree with government policy.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Foreign Secretary has not issued guidance to staff on this matter. The Permanent Under-Secretaries did respond to a series of letters from a group of staff to the Foreign Secretary raising concerns about the UK's Middle East policy, however, setting out the many avenues and options available to staff who have concerns about the UK Government's policy, particularly in relation to the Civil Service Code.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the cost was of the summer reception at Lancaster House on 1 July 2025.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The total cost of the Foreign Secretary's Summer Reception on 1 July 2025 was £49,069.88.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will introduce a three month extension to the transition period for capital allowance rules for Double Cab Pick Ups.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Following recent case law from 2020, Double Cab Pick Ups with a payload of one tonne or more must be treated as cars for capital allowances purposes, in line with the Court of Appeal's judgement on the primary suitability of such vehicles.

The government recognised that this change will affect businesses, who need certainty and predictability. Which is why HMRC has put in place substantial transitional arrangements. These ensure that current owners, and those who purchased Double Cab Pick Ups before 1 April 2025 (for Corporation Tax) and 6 April 2025 for (Income Tax), and incur expenditure before 1 October 2025, are not impacted.

The purpose of the transition period was to provide certainty and allows businesses time to adapt. The government gave just under a year’s notice of the October 2025 deadline.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has issued guidance to senior members of the armed forces on speaking at (a) conferences and (b) panels where (i) Ministers and (ii) media are present since July 2024.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

The Ministry of Defence's guidance on contact with the media and public communication was last updated on 6 February 2025.

Found: REPORT STAGE Friday 18 July 2025 2 _NC2 Mr Richard Holden .

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Found: • Richard Holden MP (Con) suggested the government should legislate to address the problems associated

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Found: Presented by Nick Timothy supported by John Cooper, Dr Luke Evans, Mr Richard Holden, Robert Jenrick