Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on what date did the Cabinet Office receive a copy from the National Cyber Security Centre of the APCO Worldwide/Labour Together report codenamed Project Cannon.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
As has been the policy of successive governments, the government does not comment on matters relating to the intelligence agencies.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether it is the Prime Minister’s policy position that the electoral system for the UK Parliament can be changed without a referendum.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Prime Minister has announced a new national commission on electoral reform, and invited all political parties to be part of its work.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of adopting progressive remuneration policies on trends in the level of costs to suppliers and the public pursue.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
People working on government contracts should expect fair pay and good working conditions that, at a system level will reduce pressures on the public purse. Savings will be made through innovation, effective management and efficiencies.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, who is the most senior Cabinet Minister responsible for AI.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
A new AI Minister has been appointed across the Cabinet Office and the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST) to drive the AI agenda. He is attending Cabinet, reporting to the First Secretary of State on AI strategy, the AI Security Institute and public sector adoption. He reports to the BIST Secretary of State on AI policy (including growth, innovation and infrastructure).
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 7 September 2026, to Question 20752, and of 2 April 2025, to Question 51650, on Information Rights User Group, for what reason the Information Rights User Group has not been convened under the current Government, and in what way the Government plans to promote best practice on the Freedom of Information Act.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
I refer the Member to my previous answer to PQ 20752.
The Government promotes best practice through the FOI Code of Practice which is available on gov.uk at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/freedom-of-information-code-of-practice.
In addition, public authorities should also consult the Information Commissioner’s guidance which can be found at www.ico.org.uk.
Asked by: Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Labour - Clapham and Brixton Hill)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the Leader of the House on the timetable for tabling a motion to establish a committee on the Defence Nuclear Enterprise.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Secretary of State for Defence and the Leader of the House continue to work with the House of Commons to set up a new Committee, under the House's Standing Orders, to scrutinise Defence Nuclear Enterprise expenditure and programmes. As set out in CP1668 (page 18), the intention is "to establish the new Committee by the end of the year".
Asked by: Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru - Dwyfor Meirionnydd)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate has he made of the UK Government spend on justice functions in Wales in (a) 2025, and (b) the most recent period for which data is available.
Answered by Jake Richards - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Ministry of Justice’s spending in Wales has been estimated at £720,729,000 for the financial year 2025-26. This data is contained within the Country and Regional Analysis: 2025 dataset published by HM Treasury and is the most recent data available: Country and regional analysis: 2025 - GOV.UK. In the financial year 2024-25, our spending was estimated at £697,441,000.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what is the policy of this Administration on (a) incumbent and (b) newly joined special advisers continuing to hold shares or share options in consultant lobbying companies.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
There is an established system in place for the declaration and management of special advisers' interests. Interests deemed relevant for publication for special advisers in No10 and the Cabinet Office are published on an annual basis by the Cabinet Office.
Special Advisers must follow the Special Adviser Code of Conduct, which has provisions on the declaration of interests.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 28 August 2026, to Question 18045, on Lord Mandelson, whether information published in the Government’s response to the Humble Address was previously deleted information obtained from restoring tape backups.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the Government’s statement and release of information on 1st June, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The methodological note included in this publication provides a detailed overview of the information gathering process.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the letter, "Simplification and Agency of Government - Letter to all ministers", of 7 September 2026, what is the timetable for the more detailed guidance on approaches to public participation to be produced, and if she will make it her policy to place it in the Library of the House once it has been produced.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The government is committed to revising its approach to consultations effective as soon as possible. In the spirit of this, we will endeavour to publish more detailed guidance on approaches to public participation as soon as possible. We will place it in the library of the House once it has been produced.