Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 14 January 2026 (HC104152), what is the constitutional basis for the National Security Adviser to (1) act as management, and (2) issue directions on behalf of the Prime Minister, given the statutory prohibitions under Section 8(5)(c) of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 on exercising any power under any Act or any power under His Majesty's prerogative.

The Code of Conduct for Special Advisers states that special advisers 'convey to officials ministers’ views, instructions and priorities' and that they may 'hold meetings with officials to discuss the advice being put to ministers'. In line with the Code, the National Security Adviser does not line manage civil servants.