Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 22 July 2025 to Question 68774 on Civil Service: Equality, whether there was a business case for the purchase of rainbow pins.

A business case for the rainbow pins was approved by the Permanent Secretary (under delegated powers from the Secretary of State). This decision was reviewed when the government guidance on branded merchandise was introduced in May 2025 and was not taken forward as this purchase was classified as non-essential.