theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the efficacy of smartphone-enabled barcode scanning in the verification of medicines. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: No assessment of the impact of the disapplication of the EU Falsified Medicines Directive (EU FMD) on the United Kingdom’s medicine supply chain has been made by the Department. However, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is not aware of any falsified medicines reaching patients through the legal supply chain in at least the last five years.

The MHRA leads work to combat falsified medicines and protect patient safety, including through the application of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 to online and retail sales. The MHRA uses several different approaches to support its work to combat falsified medicines entering the UK supply chain, including by leveraging emerging technology, for instance:

Any additional initiatives to use emerging technologies, such as smartphone verification scanning, would require careful consideration of the evidence of the reduction of the risk to patients, as well as investment needed for infrastructure, and further regulatory changes for manufacturers and wholesalers. There are provisions in the Medicines and Medical Devices Act 2021 providing powers to enable the introduction of a similar system to the EU FMD with ‘safety features’ and verification in the UK. However, the powers allow us to go beyond the EU FMD and use derived data from any system for other health related purposes. For example, to support the recall of medicines, to support patient care, research, policy development, medicine supply, preventing diversion, supporting patient access to medicines, and countering fraud in primary care. However, regulations would be needed to set out the detail of any scheme, which would require consultation. Consideration is being given as to whether to consult on options for a potential UK system.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what funding his department has allocated towards research into (a) Chron's and (b) Colitis in the last year. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Department invests £1.6 billion each year on research through its research delivery arm, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

In the financial year 2024/25, the NIHR committed £279,000 for new research projects and programmes into Crohn's and Colitis. The NIHR continues to welcome funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including Crohn's and Colitis research.
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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of logistical challenges affecting rapid vaccine deployment in rural areas. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department, NHS England, and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) work together to ensure a new vaccine is rolled out in a timely manner after a policy decision has been made, ensuring that all the components are in place to provide an accessible and safe programme. Supplies of centrally procured vaccines for the routine immunisation programme are available to order from UKHSA by all registered general practices, hospitals, maternity services, and other sites commissioned to deliver the programme. Sites have deliveries at least once a week, regardless of where in England they are located, and the coverage is across the country, including rural areas.

To improve public access to vaccinations, including in rural areas, we are expanding the use of community pharmacies giving vaccinations, including through delivering flu vaccines for two and three-year-olds this autumn. An evaluation will assess whether the use of community pharmacies improves coverage and helps tackle regional health inequalities, in line with the National Health Service vaccination strategy.

To ensure pharmacy access in rural areas, local authorities are required to undertake a pharmaceutical needs assessment every three years to assess whether their population is adequately served by local pharmacies and must keep these assessments under review.

We are also exploring ways of delivering our commitment to administer vaccinations as part of health visits. Local pathfinders for health visitor delivery will begin from January 2026, across a mix of urban and rural geographies.
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Paula Barker:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of (a) the effectiveness of the monitoring of early foetal development in patients by trusts and (b) trends in the level of variations in that monitoring by those trusts. \p Karin Smyth: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will provide guidance, resources, and risk assessment tools to general practitioners to support discussions with patients eligible for targeted prostate cancer screening. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Vikki Slade:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to ensure Mental Health Support Teams in schools are trained in Speech and Language therapy. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to expand BRCA testing to men, including those with male relatives of confirmed BRCA carriers. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how he plans to fund the UK-US pharmaceutical deal. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Dr Caroline Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of patients waited more than (a) 12, (b) 24, (c) 48 and (d) 60 hours at A&E at Lincoln County Hospital in the last 12 months. \p Karin Smyth: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Dr Caroline Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help increase uptake of the HPV vaccine. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Gill Furniss:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether NHS England has made an estimate of the number and proportion of women diagnosed with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis who receive timely treatment compared to men. \p Karin Smyth: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Samantha Niblett:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much his Department has spent on software licences from Microsoft in the last 12 months; and what proportion this represents of his Department’s total technology spend. \p Karin Smyth: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Shockat Adam:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 25 November 2025 to Question 92292, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the requirement for pre-visit notifications on the uptake of free eye health screening on people experiencing long term homelessness. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Dr Caroline Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department holds information on the number of resident doctors who, whilst on strike, work for another trust. \p Karin Smyth: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Dr Caroline Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 1 December 2025 to Question 93572, what steps he is taking to protect NHS staff from second hand vape. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessments his department has made of the predicted total cost of UK-US pharmaceutical deal on the NHS budget. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he Department is taking to improve integration between NHS services and social care provision in West Dorset. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Department is committed to improving integration between health and social care services nationally and locally. Our vision for Neighbourhood Health will see local government and the National Health Service working more closely together, with a revitalised role for Health and Wellbeing Boards and reform of the Better Care Fund (BCF).

Through the BCF, approximately £9 billion is being invested in 2025/26 to enable NHS bodies and local authorities to pool budgets and deliver joined-up care. This includes setting shared goals to reduce delayed discharges, avoid unnecessary hospital admissions, and support people to live independently at home. Dorset has also received additional support from expert advisors working on behalf of NHS England and the Department.

Whilst no specific assessment has been made of the impact of closer NHS-social care integration on reducing hospital discharge delays in West Dorset, local Health and Wellbeing Boards are required to agree plans under the BCF framework to provide timely and coordinated support for people with complex needs. These plans prioritise effective discharge from hospital and recovery in the community.
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Jess Brown-Fuller:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of allowing appropriately skilled professionals using a competency-based framework to undertake Initial Health Assessments. \p Ashley Dalton: Local authorities are responsible for making sure a health assessment of physical, emotional and mental health needs is carried out for every child they look after, regardless of where that child lives. Integrated care boards (ICBs) commission a health provider to undertake initial health assessments (IHAs). The service specification for this service is aligned to the current Children Act 1989 regulations.

The regulations for health assessments are set out in the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010, the Children Act 1989 guidance and regulations colume 2: care planning, placement and case review and supported within the statutory guidance Promoting the health and wellbeing of looked-after children.

Regulation 7(3) of the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 states that IHAs are required to be undertaken within twenty days of a child coming into the care of the local authority. The current regulations for the Children Act 1989 state that the IHA should be undertaken by a registered medical practitioner.

This is different to a review health assessment, which may be carried out by a registered medical practitioner, or by a registered nurse or registered midwife, under the supervision of a registered medical practitioner, as stated in regulation 7(3).

No assessment has been made on the potential merits of allowing additional appropriately skilled professionals using a competency-based framework to undertake IHAs.

If IHAs are not happening on time, ICBs are the first line of statutory safeguarding assurance, which includes identifying early warning signs and responding to risks at local levels. NHS England, through ICBs, also undertake annual checks on how safeguarding, and other statutory commitments, are working in practice and across the system. NHS England is working with ICBs to improve the timeliness of IHAs and review health assessments.
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Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of progress against the commitment in the NHS 10 Year Plan for Health to launch a new large-scale study to sequence the genomes of 150,000 adults and assess how genomics can be used in routine preventive care. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The 10-Year Health Plan for England committed to launching a large-scale study, led by Genomics England, to sequence 150,000 adult genomes and assess how genomics can support routine preventive care. Work is now underway to design the study, develop scientific and clinical methodologies, and establish governance in line with major programme standards. Genomics England has commissioned a structured literature review and launched the Genomics, Healthcare and You engagement programme to understand the diverse public and professional perspectives on pre-emptive, preventative population healthcare, while building trust and transparency. This engagement will run through 2025/26, with interim findings shaping study design and recruitment strategies which will be developed in 2026/27. Subject to ethics approval, the recruitment and sequencing of participants is expected to begin from 2027.
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Shaun Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure NHS Online is accessible to people with limited a) digital skills and b) internet access. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Government will establish an “online hospital”, NHS Online, which will give people on certain pathways the choice of getting the specialist care they need from their home. It will connect patients with clinicians across the country through secure, online appointments accessed through the NHS App.

Before NHS Online goes live, the National Health Service will learn from existing research on patient experience of online care over the last five years and build it into the programme as it develops, with a commitment to patient partnership in design and delivery. Inclusive service design is a key priority to ensure people continue to have greater access, choice, and control over their care.

Digital health tools will be part of a wider offering that includes traditional face-to-face support with appropriate help for people who struggle to access digital services. Digital inclusion is a key priority for the NHS as it will support the shift from ‘analogue to digital’. It is one of the five national NHS England Health Inequalities Strategic Priorities, and they published a Digital Healthcare Framework which has guided the integrated care boards’ approach.

To improve digital awareness and access, the NHS App team are working with through the National Health Literacy Partnership to provide an NHS App support offer to public libraries in England.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to include a) Ehlers-Danlos syndromes and b) hypermobility spectrum disorders in plans to improve the delivery of treatment for people with chronic illnesses. \p Ashley Dalton: The National Health Service recognises that people with chronic conditions, including Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (EDS) and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD), require personalised, coordinated care. EDS comprises 13 rare inherited connective-tissue disorders affecting multiple body systems. Hypermobile EDS (hEDS) is the most common sub-type and, along with HSD, is frequently associated with chronic, high-impact musculoskeletal pain. Patients may be managed across primary care, community services, and secondary care services, and diagnosis and management of the most complex cases is supported by the nationally commissioned diagnostic centres in London and Sheffield.

The Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) Rheumatology report published in July 2021 highlighted that non-inflammatory musculoskeletal conditions, such as hypermobility-related chronic pain, benefit most from multidisciplinary, personalised pain-management strategies delivered in primary and community care, rather than routine referral to rheumatology. The GIRFT Chronic Pain workstream, introduced in 2025, is reviewing service delivery across all care settings to improve access, equity, and outcomes for patients with persistent pain.

These initiatives align with wider NHS and Government plans to improve care for people with chronic illnesses by promoting integrated, proactive, and person-centred management, including multidisciplinary support in primary care networks, enhanced specialist input where needed, and better access to evidence-based interventions. For people with hEDS and HSD, this means earlier recognition, holistic management of chronic pain, and coordinated pathways that reduce unnecessary specialist referrals while ensuring complex cases are referred to appropriate tertiary services.
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Stuart Andrew:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of (a) the Government’s plans to bring NHS England into the Department of Health and Social Care and (b) the planned 50% reduction in integrated care board staffing on those boards’ capacity to safeguard children, including their effective participation in multi-agency child protection teams proposed in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. \p Ashley Dalton: The Government will publish an impact assessment of its plan to bring NHS England into the Department alongside the primary legislation to enact this reform. We do not expect the integration to have an impact on the capacity of integrated care boards (ICBs) to safeguard children, as the existing safeguarding functions of ICBs will be retained.

To ensure ICBs maintain effective safeguarding functions throughout the reform, NHS England has shared best practice on safeguarding with ICBs earlier this year. In November 2025, NHS England also published a strategic commissioning framework for ICBs with a focus on collaboration with local government and wider system partners.

Safeguarding partners, including health, have a legal duty to work together to safeguard and promote children’s welfare, including through the proposed Multi Agency Child Protection Teams. There is no intention to change this duty through the ICB reform.
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Richard Foord:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to Recommendations 6 and 7 of Module 1 of the UK Covid 19 Inquiry, what steps he is taking to (1) gather and (2) publish findings, lessons and recommendations within the recommended 3 month window; and whether he will publish an action plan based on the findings from Exercise Pegasus. \p Ashley Dalton: Live participation in Exercise PEGASUS has now concluded, although a fourth phase, centred around recovery, is planned to be exercised in 2026. A published post-exercise report will include learning and findings from this and all preceding phases and this will be delivered in due course following detailed evaluation. The United Kingdom uses a Lead Government Department model to cover all phases of emergency planning, response, recovery, and risk assessment. Ministers within the Department, as the Lead Government Department for a pandemic response, will continue to actively consider the implementation of the findings from Exercise PEGASUS.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many of the neighbourhood health centres announced in the autumn budget 2025 will be based in Lincolnshire. \p Stephen Kinnock: At the Autumn Budget, we announced our commitment to deliver 250 Neighbourhood Health Centres (NHCs) through the NHS Neighbourhood Rebuild Programme. This will deliver NHCs through a mixture of refurbishments to expand and improve sites over the next three years and new-build sites opening in the medium term. The first 120 NHCs are due to be operational by 2030 and will be delivered through public private partnerships and public capital.

Nationwide coverage will take time, but we will start in the areas of greatest need where healthy life expectancy is lowest, including rural towns and communities with higher deprivation levels, targeting places where healthy life expectancy is lowest and delivering healthcare closer to home for those that need it the most.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning, which includes planning, securing, and monitoring, general practice services within their health systems through delegated responsibility from NHS England. Both ICBs and local health systems will be responsible for determining the most appropriate locations for Neighbourhood Health Centres.

We have also launched wave 1 of the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme (NNHIP) in 43 areas across England, including North East Lincolnshire. The NNHIP is supporting systems across the country in driving innovation and integration at a local level to improve the care they provide to their communities.

We expect neighbourhood teams and services to be designed in a way that reflects the specific needs of local populations. While the focus on personalised, coordinated care will be consistent, that will mean the service will look different in rural communities such as Lincolnshire.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the annual cost is of the Senior Leaders Scheme; and how many deputy directors participated in the last year. \p Anna Turley: This year there are 114 deputy directors taking part in the Senior Leadership Programme established in 2018. The programme is 14 months’ long and costs a total of £1,373,401.91.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when his Department informed Westminster City Council that the Ministerial residence in Admiralty House occupied by the then Deputy Prime Minister should be billed for the second homes council tax premium. \p Anna Turley: Before the Second Home premium was introduced in Westminster, the Cabinet Office were aware that the former Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) was occupying Admiralty House (AH) as a second home and that council tax would therefore be payable by Government. In line with long standing precedent under successive administrations, as the property was a second residence the Government was responsible for paying the Council Tax on Admiralty House, not the former DPM. Similarly, the Cabinet Office is responsible for liaising with Westminster City Council (WCC) for matters concerning residency at Admiralty House.

WCC were notified at the beginning of May that the former DPM was occupying AH as a second home for council tax purposes, and details were provided for WCC to issue a bill accordingly.

The Government Property Agency wrote to WCC in June to confirm that the second home's premium applied. WCC issued an invoice in July which was paid the same day.
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Lisa Smart:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of call-handling capacity at MyCSP and what action is being taken to reduce waiting times for members seeking assistance. \p Anna Turley: As of Monday 1 December, MyCSP is no longer the contracted administrator for the Civil Service pension scheme. The new contract was awarded to Capita. To support the transition, Capita has employed an additional 194 staff over and above the workforce transferred from MyCSP. This has seen a 60% increase in the capacity of the customer contact centre.

The Cabinet Office has secured a robust contract containing strict performance levers; this includes financial penalties should Capita fail to answer calls within agreed timescales. A comprehensive governance structure is fully operational and reporting via oversight groups to ensure performance remains consistent with these contractual requirements.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 2 September 2025 to Question 69278 Cabinet Office: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution, if he will itemise the £7,395 spent. \p Anna Turley: The £7,395 covered in the response to Question 69278 was part of the £8,500 budget referred to in Question 65788 asked by the same MP on 8 July 2025. Under EDI Expenditure rules that budget was listed in the data published on 30 May 2025 and was the maximum approved budget, a ceiling rather than actual spend. Expenditure within this budget facilitated a presence on behalf of the Civil Service at 26 Pride events across the UK.

Itemising spend across all supplier organisations may breach commercial agreements between the department and suppliers.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 24 October 2025 to Question 82675 on Civil Service: Redundancy, which public body collated and provided that data to the National Audit Office. \p Anna Turley: The Cabinet Office provided this information to the National Audit Office. This information was already held under the Redundancy and Compensation Control process.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the Permanent Secretary model contract released under FOI reference FOI2025/09712 of September 2025. \p Anna Turley: I refer to my answer to 88716, where I confirm a copy of the model contract has been placed in the House Library.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 3 September 2025, to Question 70509, on Government Departments: Buildings, what is the current ownership and freehold, leasehold or rental status, of the Department for Education building on Great Smith Street, London. \p Anna Turley: The property occupied by the Department for Education on Great Smith Street, London is known as Sanctuary Buildings. GPA, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, holds the leasehold interest in the property and pays the rent. The freehold interest is held by Legal and General Assurance (Pensions Management) Limited.

Information on property registered in England and Wales is available to the public by following the following link to HM Land Registry - Search for land and property information

https://www.gov.uk/search-property-information-land-registry
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to his Department's press release entitled Civil Service staff networks to only meet outside working hours and have all events signed off by senior managers, published on 23 September 2025 if he will place in the Library a copy of the new guidance on diversity networks. \p Anna Turley: The Staff Network Policy is an internal Civil Service staff policy. It is not in the public domain and as such a copy will not be placed in the Library.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has issued guidance on civil servants claiming trade union facility time and diversity network time. \p Anna Turley: The Cabinet Office Facility Time Framework, issued to Civil Service departments, provides guidance on the granting of time off for trade union facility time for civil servants who are trade union representatives. Civil Service staff network activity is separate to trade union activities and duties carried out by trade union representatives in the Civil Service. The Staff Network Policy covers the allocation of time for specific staff network roles and duties.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his policy is on severance payments to outgoing Cabinet Secretaries and Permanent Secretaries not provided for in the model contract. \p Anna Turley: The Permanent Secretary model contract sets out the contractual detail on compensation payments for all Permanent Secretaries. This applies to the Cabinet Secretary and there is no separate internal guidance. A copy of the model contract has been placed in the House Library.
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Jim McMahon:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has had recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on (a) the potential merits of prioritising British made vehicles through procurement and (b) holding accurate data on the number of British and non-British made vehicles procured across Government and its agencies. \p Chris Ward: This Government is committed to ensuring public procurement drives growth across the UK and supports British businesses.

We have consulted on procurement reforms to further boost domestic supply chains and create more opportunities for businesses across the UK, including across the vehicle manufacturing sector. We will be publishing the consultation outcome - and legislative proposals - soon.

Data on the number of British and non-British made vehicles procured across the Government and its agencies is not held centrally.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

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Sir Gavin Williamson:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what criteria he uses to determine whether companies (a) constitute a threat to national security and (b) are placed under investigation under the Procurement Act 2023. \p Dan Jarvis: The Procurement Act 2023 allows the Government to investigate and, where appropriate, add suppliers to a centrally managed debarment list. Addition to the list impacts on a supplier’s eligibility for public contracts. These decisions can be taken on multiple grounds, including national security. The Government does not routinely comment on debarment investigations under the Procurement Act.

Any suppliers subject to debarment will be listed on gov.uk.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_250

Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many and what proportion of officials at each Senior Civil Service grade completed the One Big Thing 2024 Innovation Masterclass from each Department and executive agency; and if he will provide this information in tabular form showing, for each organisation, the total number of officials in scope, the number completing the Masterclass, and the resulting completion rate, alongside the corresponding figures for all staff in that organisation. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: All publicly available data related to completions of the training can be found in the Evaluation of One Big Thing 2024, published on 10 October 2025.

A breakdown of the proportion of officials at each Senior Civil Service grade who completed the One Big Thing 2024 Innovation Masterclass from each Department and executive agency is not publicly available.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_251

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the name of each Mission Board is. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The Mission Boards are:

Growth Mission Board;

Clean Energy Mission Board;

Safer Streets Mission Board;

Opportunities Mission Board; and

Health Mission Board.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_252

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether any Ministers have unspent criminal records. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: There is an established process in place for the appointment of ministers. Any conversations held take place in confidence. All ministers are expected to adhere to the high standards of conduct set out in the Ministerial Code.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_253

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many Direct Ministerial Appointments are in post across government; and how many are paid. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The Cabinet Office does not hold data from across government on all direct ministerial appointments.

As set out in the recently published Guidance on Making Direct Ministerial Appointments, the Cabinet Office has recently made changes to its public appointments digital platform, which will allow departments to record and track their data on such appointments.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_254

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has issued recent guidance to Departments on the disclosure of political activity at the same time as the announcement of appointments. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: For public appointments, the Governance Code on Public Appointments requires that relevant political activity, as defined within the Code, should be publicly disclosed for successful candidates. This is expected to happen at the time that a department or appointing body announces the successful candidate. Or in the case of those appointments subject to pre-appointment hearing by a House of Commons select committee, the preferred candidate.

Direct ministerial appointments are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. This requires declaration of political activity where that is an actual or perceived conflict to their role. This is administered by the appointing body.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_255

Luke Taylor:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is planning to take to ensure Parliamentary oversight of the digital ID scheme in relation to the UN Agenda 2030. \p Josh Simons: The Government’s proposed Digital ID scheme will require primary legislation, ensuring full scrutiny by Parliament.

The Government will consult widely with stakeholders and the public, through a public consultation. The consultation will be open for the public and experts who will be able to share their views on how the scheme is designed and implemented.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_256

Luke Taylor:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the press release entitled New digital ID scheme to be rolled out across UK, published on 26 September 2025, what steps he is planning to take to ensure that the scheme cannot be (a) misused, (b) expanded without public consent and (c) linked to unrelated services. \p Josh Simons: The new scheme will be inclusive, secure, and useful. It will give people more control over their data than they have now, and make public services easier to access.

Users will receive clear information about what data is collected, how it is used, retention periods, and their rights. Privacy notices will be accessible and easy to understand, ensuring people remain informed and confident in the system.

We will ensure that the new scheme complies with all data protection legislation, and user privacy will be at the heart of the design of the scheme at every stage of development and delivery.

We are inviting the public to have their say in the upcoming consultation. (No final decisions will be made until after the consultation).
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_257

Luke Taylor:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when will the mandatory digital ID scheme be introduced. \p Josh Simons: The Government’s new digital ID scheme will be rolled out by the end of this Parliament.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_258

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many pubs in England have closed in each month since 4 July 2024, broken down by (a) tied pubs, (b) managed houses and (c) freehold or free-of-tie pubs. \p Josh Simons: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of the 2nd December is attached.

Letter from the National Statistician (pdf, 146.7KB)
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_259

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to page 122 of the OBR, Economic and Fiscal Outlook, November 2025, CP1439, 26 November 2025, if he will itemise the cost of Digital ID Cards in each of those three years. \p Josh Simons: The number was an initial, and early, estimate, spread over a number of years.

We do not recognise it as an accurate cost of the program. Any costs in this Spending Review period will be met within existing settlements. The Government will run a public consultation in the new year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_260

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what does he estimate the total cost of implementing digital ID cards to be across the a) resource departmental expenditure limit and b) capital departmental expenditure limit budgets. \p Josh Simons: Any costs in this Spending Review period will be met within existing settlements. The Government will run a public consultation in the new year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_261

Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 10 October 2025, to Question 70464, on Government Communication Service: Audit, what is the timetable for the completion of the current annual data collection. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The 2025 data collection is complete.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_262

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if the Prime Minister will make it his policy to appear before the Liaison Committee before Christmas recess. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: I refer the Hon Member to the Liaison Committee's website, which has published that the Prime Minister is due to appear before the Committee on 15 December.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_263

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 18 November 2025 to Question 90311 on Prime Minister: Conflict of Interests, whether the Prime Minister has recused himself from policies on football following advice from the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: I refer to Hon Member to the answer of 2 December 2025, Official Report, PQ 92608.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_264

Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will ensure that direct ministerial appointments publish a declaration of interests on gov.uk. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: It is the responsibility of individual sponsor departments to publish details of the direct ministerial appointments that they make, including their terms of reference. Information about managing conflicts of interest and the public announcements that should be made for Direct Ministerial Appointments is set out in the Guidance on Making Direct Ministerial Appointments.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_265

Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 23 September 2025 to Question 75722 on Government Departments: Advertising, if he will publish equivalent data for spending on (a) hard copy advertising, (b) public relations and (c) marketing. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The requested information is not held centrally or in the specific categories outlined in the question.

Please refer to departmental transparency data.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-09 conversation_266

Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment they have made of the impact of vetting delays on (a) recruitment and (b) project delivery across government departments and national security agencies. \p Dan Jarvis: Since April 2024, United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) has consistently met its agreed Key Performance Indicators (KPI), across each product type.

With the appropriate Ministerial oversight, UKSV works closely with the departments and decision-making authorities they serve to understand their forecasted demand for the provision of vetting services.