Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Cabinet Office guidance Privacy information relating to honours nominations, updated 6 October 2026, whether additional safeguards are applied over the 20 year retention period for honours nomination data.

The Cabinet Office takes data protection and information security extremely seriously. As noted in the privacy information relating to honours nominations, there are internal policies and controls in place to ensure that nomination data is retained appropriately and is subject to technical and organisational security controls in accordance with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, regardless of the length of time held. At the end of the 20-year retention period, records are systematically reviewed for either permanent preservation or securely scheduled disposal. Records retained are those of enduring value for the general public interest. The handling of older Honour nominations is covered by our Privacy notice for Cabinet Office historic records and inquiries.