Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to Table 14, Summer Internship Programme recruitment by diversity characteristics, 2026, of the Civil Service Fast Stream: recruitment data 2026, 24 September 2026, whether the 4,148 registrations from those who declared a parent/guardian occupation of (a) Higher managerial, administrative and professional occupations, (b) Intermediate occupations and (c) No parental occupation information provided were automatically rejected.

The Fast Stream Summer Internship Programme is only open to penultimate and final year undergraduates from Lower Socioeconomic backgrounds as determined through their parental occupation at age 14. Any candidate who is not eligible under this criteria is automatically rejected before progressing their application.