Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 28 November 2024 to Question 15239 on Arms Length Bodies: Equality, what exemptions have been authorised by (a) departments and (b) arm's length bodies.

For departments, external equality, diversity and inclusion expenditure for financial year 2024/2025 has recently been published on Gov.uk. Delegated authority from a minister to a Permanent Secretary has been reported to the Cabinet Office for the following departments:

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

HM Treasury

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Department for Business and Trade

Cabinet Office

Home Office

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Department for Transport

The exemption requirement does not apply to arm’s-length bodies. As stated in paragraph four of the Civil Service Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Expenditure Guidance, for arm’s-length bodies, the Principal Accounting Officer, in consultation with the Board, must authorise the expenditure.