theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-13)

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Emma Lewell:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what information his Department holds on the prevalence of asbestos in (a) defence equipment platforms and (b) his Department's (i) buildings and (ii) other infrastructure. \p Louise Sandher-Jones: We take the health and safety of our Service personnel and defence employees extremely seriously and have robust procedures for managing asbestos which comply with Health and Safety regulations.

Asbestos registers are held for Defence Equipment Platforms along with asbestos elimination/management plans that detail the quantity of Asbestos Containing Material (ACM) present. An annual report is submitted to the Health and Safety Executive on the progress made in eliminating asbestos from Defence Equipment Platforms.

The Department is responsible for circa 1,967 sites and each building with confirmed asbestos is listed on the relevant site asbestos register.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-13)

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Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which organisation will be responsible for the maintenance and support of Boxer vehicles within 3 (UK) Division. \p Luke Pollard: The approved Initial Operating Capability of the Mechanised Infantry (Boxer) programme is currently Q4 2025. It is under review and an update will be provided shortly.

The programme has faced some delays that have primarily resulted from global supply chain issues which are not unique to Boxer or Defence. These have, therefore, impacted industry manufacture, delivery and training timelines.

Trials have, however, progressed well; training and support work is underway, and a steady progression of vehicles are being received month on month for acceptance before being fielded to Field Army units.

Once in service, maintenance and support for the Boxer vehicle in 3rd (UK) Division will be initially led by the holding units and Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers maintainers along with support from Field Service Representatives from industry. Spares and support will be provisioned through our NATO Support and Procurement Agency membership in collaboration with other Boxer Nations, which provides reach back to industry for deeper maintenance if required.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-13)

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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what information his Department holds on the cost to the public purse for urgent repair call-outs to reserve bases in each month since January 2023. \p Luke Pollard: Costs based Work Order Estimates for Priority 1 and 2 Call Outs at Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Association Locations

Reporting Month

Sum of Cost per month

January 2023

£361,591.00

February 2023

£230,419.00

March 2023

£229,657.00

April 2023

£280,830.00

May 2023

£293,900.00

June 2023

£271,051.00

July 2023

£300,990.00

August 2023

£314,455.00

September 2023

£273,296.00

October 2023

£258,766.00

November 2023

£380,787.00

December 2023

£104,628.00

January 2024

£240,871.00

February 2024

£211,505.00

March 2024

£129,630.00

April 2024

£214,116.00

May 2024

£253,482.00

June 2024

£202,109.00

July 2024

£205,038.00

Please note that the Future Defence Infrastructure Services (FDIS) went live for the Reserve Estate on 1 August 2024, information after this date is not held in the format requested.
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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what information his Department holds on the number of urgent repair call-outs to reserve bases in each month since January 2023. \p Luke Pollard: The number of Priority 1 and 2 repair call-outs to Reserve Bases for each month since January 2023, are shown in the table below.

Financial Year by Reporting Month

Number of Call Outs Recorded

January 2023

485

February 2023

372

March 2023

363

April 2023

321

May 2023

367

June 2023

335

July 2023

312

August 2023

371

September 2023

376

October 2023

458

November 2023

486

December 2023

217

January 2024

441

February 2024

329

March 2024

254

April 2024

301

May 2024

327

June 2024

262

July 2024

265

August 2024

37

September 2024

50

October 2024

101

November 2024

79

December 2024

73

January 2025

95

February 2025

118

March 2025

64

April 2025

59

May 2025

48

June 2025

68

July 2025

84

August 2025

71

September 2025

47
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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to p.10 of the Defence Industrial Strategy, published on 8 September 2025, what his Department's planned timetable is for setting out the membership of the Defence Investors Advisory Group. \p Luke Pollard: The Secretary of State for Defence set out at the Defence Investment Summit on 10 September 2025 that the Defence Investors’ Advisory Group would be Chaired by Kerry Balwin. A second co-chair been chosen and will be announced shortly. The Group brings together some of the best minds from banking, pension funds, venture capital and Strategic Finance.
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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to support armed forces spouses right to work abroad in the same country as their partner. \p Louise Sandher-Jones: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to supporting UK Service personnel and their families.

The Armed Forces Covenant, which this Government has made a manifesto commitment to put into law, has at its heart the principle that those who serve and have served and their families should not be disadvantaged as a result of their Service. All Government Departments, not just MOD, are committed to upholding the Covenant. Improving prospects for partner employment is also a key theme of the Armed Forces Families Strategy.

One of the actions taken by Defence is funding the Armed Forces Families Fund (AF3) to support this work. Between 2022 and today, a total of £2,242 million has been granted to fund projects supporting spouses and partners of Service personnel at national, local, and unit levels, both within the UK and overseas. This includes projects providing tailored training to spouses and partners, enabling them to get back into employment.

In addition, Defence is currently working on guidance in line with the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant to encourage other Government Departments to support any employees who wish to work remotely from overseas to accompany their serving partner, so that they don’t have to compromise between their career and family life.

We are currently reviewing a number of our international arrangements to ensure that spouses of UK Service personnel are able to remain in employment when they accompany their serving partners.
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Ian Roome:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of virtual-reality based training programmes for armed forces personnel. \p Louise Sandher-Jones: The Defence Systems Approach to Training (DSAT) is the Ministry of Defence’s framework for designing, delivering, and evaluating all training, including that which uses Virtual-Reality (VR). DSAT ensures that training is aligned with needs, is both effective and cost-efficient, and is operationally relevant.

Each of the Services have plans to supplement live training with virtual training environments. The benefits are clear, although the blend varies on a case-by-case basis.

The Royal Navy’s SPARTAN programme aims at modernising and improving the delivery of Royal Navy Collective Training from unit to Joint Battle Staff level through an enhanced Live-Virtual-Constructive simulation approach that incorporates the use of virtual training environments.

The British Army has detailed plans to supplement live training with virtual training environments as part of a balanced and evidence-based approach. This is part of an integrated approach through its Collective Training Transformation Programme (CTTP).

The Royal Air Force (RAF) uses blended live and virtual training as a matter of routine. The RAF’s Gladiator Distributed Synthetic Training Capability is already delivering for Air personnel, and its potential to help integrate across the war-fighting domains is now being pursued.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will award medals to the crew of the HMS Diamond for their work during the period of November 2023 and July 2024. \p Louise Sandher-Jones: Medallic recognition for the operational activity undertaken by HMS Diamond during the period November 2023 and July 2024, is under consideration by the Ministry of Defence in accordance with the existing process.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Question of 9 September 2025 to Question 74242 on Ajax Vehicles: Procurement, what the Army’s fielding plan is for Ares vehicles. \p Luke Pollard: The Army’s fielding plan is reviewed and updated on a regular basis to meet the changing needs of the Army. Currently ARES will be fielded to Training Regiments, Armoured Cavalry units and Armoured Infantry units.
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Sam Rushworth:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of Norway’s decision to purchase Type 26 frigates from BAE Systems on levels of supply chain opportunities for businesses in the North East. \p Luke Pollard: I refer the hon. Members to the answer given by my noble Friend, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Defence (Lord Coaker), on 16 September 2025 to Question number HL10176 in the House of Lords.

The Norwegian Government’s announcement on 31 August 2025, that it had selected the UK as a strategic partner for their acquisition of Type 26 warships, will sustain around 4,000 jobs across the UK’s supply chain until well into the 2030s.

This is the largest ever UK warship export deal by value and it is expected to provide a £10 billion boost to the UK economy and support more than 400 British companies across all regions, including the north east of England. It is a huge vote of confidence in the UK’s defence industry and supply chains, which are supported by small and medium enterprises.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what formal agreement between the UK and France stipulates the chain-of-command within the coalition of the willing. \p Al Carns: The Multi-National Force-Ukraine is a combined UK-France lead, cohering UK-French co-leadership through the basis of the Combined Joint Force, formally the Combined Joint Expeditionary Force and renamed at the UK-France Summit in July 2025.

The CJEF Concept of Operations provides a collaboratively shaped set of pre-agreed processes and procedures for planning and managing operations undertaken by the UK and French militaries. The structure offers balance between the two militaries for mutual decision-making within the policy/military space.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the full scope is of Project Cavendish. \p Luke Pollard: Project CAVENDISH will commence in October 2025 and seeks to trial novel wastewater treatment technology on an Ministry of Defence (MOD) site. It will assess the feasibility and viability of net-positive energy sewage treatment on UK MOD sites in the United Kingdom and abroad. It will trial commercially available Microbial Electrolysis Cell (MEC) technology to treat sewage wastewater, produce energy-positive hydrogen and clean effluent.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the full scope is of Project Santa-ana. \p Luke Pollard: Project SANTA ANA is a trial of two ‘off grid’ deployable, modular and mobile energy systems to compare market solutions to;

- generate power at the point of use.

- store the energy.

- manage the energy.

- distribute the energy to electric vehicles.

The system includes micro wind turbines, battery, solar, energy management systems and Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure.

The systems are being trialled at RAF Leeming, RNAS Yeovilton, Bovington and West Moors.

The system sited at RAF Leeming is in direct line of sight of an airfield radar system as part of a test of the impact of micro wind turbines on radar.

The trial will provide learning to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to the following areas:

- To gain experience on reducing the reliance on the hydrocarbon logistics chain.

- To produce reliable and dependable off grid energy for a deployable environment.

- To exploit micro wind turbine technology.

- To challenge policy with respect to micro wind turbine and radar.

- To inform and influence MOD stakeholders on mobile renewable energy solutions.

- To understand the challenges of managing mobile renewable power and demand.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the full scope is of Project Effingo. \p Luke Pollard: Project EFFINGO was a UK Defence innovation project, that started in September 2022 and concluded in July 2023. Its aim was to demonstrate that a replica adversarial Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) could be manufactured rapidly, and at relatively low cost, and be delivered to users within UK MOD for training purposes.

Conclusion of the project allowed UK MOD to develop relevant Training, Tactics and Procedures (TTPs) for defensive (Counter-UAS) purposes for the protection personnel, assets and infrastructure.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the full scope is of Project Theia. \p Luke Pollard: Project THEIA is the British Army’s flagship digital transformation programme. Project THEIA is structured around three core objectives; transforming digital culture and behaviours, integrating information across domains and enhancing decision-making. The project has delivered major initiatives to support the digitalisation and modernisation of the British Army.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the full scope is of Project Theia. \p Al Carns: Project THEIA is the British Army’s flagship digital transformation programme. Project THEIA is structured around three core objectives; transforming digital culture and behaviours, integrating information across domains and enhancing decision-making. The project has delivered major initiatives to support the digitalisation and modernisation of the British Army.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department's projected completion date is for Project Morpheus. \p Luke Pollard: Following the closure of the Evolve to Open Transition Partner Contract in 2023, the Army has sought to achieve the objectives of MORPHEUS through iterative and incremental delivery. The Army has already demonstrated some of these capability goals through Project ASGARD. The Army continues to deliver tactical communications updates and upgrades across Defence and therefore the objectives of Project MORPHEUS remain ongoing under the revised Land Domain C4 sub-portfolio.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what grain is the standard 5.56 x 45mm ball round used by the Armed Forces. \p Luke Pollard: The standard 5.56 x 45mm ball round used by the UK Armed Forces has a bullet weight of four grams, equivalent to 62 grains.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the out-of-service date of the Watchkeeper TUAS. \p Luke Pollard: As announced by the Secretary of State in 2024, the Army’s Watchkeeper Mk 1 Uncrewed Aerial System is in the process of being retired from service with an Out of Service Date of March 2027.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2025 to Question 74146 on Defence: Huntingdon, (a) what and (b) where those two projects are. \p Luke Pollard: I hope the hon. Member will understand that I cannot place all the details in the public domain at this time, but the two projects potentially eligible for fast-track planning in Huntingdon are still under consideration. No final decision has been made with respect to the location of the projects, their design or timescales for operational readiness.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many students attend the Royal College of Defence Studies from (a) Russia, (b) China, (c) Iran and (d) North Korea. \p Al Carns: The provision of professional military education or training to a foreign Governments is dependent on a number of factors, including the nature of our partnerships and course availability, and is kept under regular review. Any decision is made on a case-by-case basis and is underpinned by a robust assessment as to the benefits, risks, and compliance with international human rights law. In the interests of national security and upholding trust and confidentiality in our international partnerships, it is not appropriate for the Government to comment on the current provision of training to individual countries or the numbers of individuals on specific courses.
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Mary Glindon:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Strategic Defence Review published on 2 June 2025, when an announcement will be made of the sites of the six new munitions factories. \p Luke Pollard: The Strategic Defence Review committed to build at least six new energetics and munitions factories in the UK. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is currently developing a plan to deliver this commitment alongside our wider Defence Industrial Strategy, delivering long-term investment to boost UK growth and generating skilled UK jobs and export opportunities. The MOD is carefully considering arrangements for those factories including potential locations, and more detail will be set out in due course. It is currently considered to be premature to discuss specific proposals or sites until the necessary preparatory work has concluded.

I can reassure the hon. Member that I am aware of lobbying by MPs from then North East looking to increase defence investment in the region and as this Government delivers defence being an engine for growth I believe there are opportunities for the region in the future. I would be happy meeting her and regional colleagues to discuss further.
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Dr Andrew Murrison:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish his Department's impact assessment for the removal of UK military courses from Israeli nationals. \p Al Carns: To protect formulation of Government policy, advice provided to Ministers on this matter will not be published.

Given our concerns regarding the Israeli Defence Force’s conduct in Palestine, particularly following the Government of Israel’s decision to escalate its offensive in Gaza City, the Ministry of Defence decided to pause future Israeli participation on UK training and education courses.

To avoid significant disruption to students and their families, any students on UK courses that are currently running have been permitted to continue.

We are keeping this decision under review and are mindful of the potential prospects for a ceasefire and long-term resolution to the conflict.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which nations have been subject to a ban on personnel attending the Royal College of Defence Studies; and when those bans were put in place. \p Al Carns: Any decision to provide professional military education or training to a partner nation is made on a case-by-case basis and is underpinned by a robust assessment as to the benefits, risks, and compliance with international human rights law. In the interests of national security and upholding trust and confidentiality in our international partnerships, it is not appropriate for the Government to comment on the provision of training to individual countries.
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Dr Andrew Murrison:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list military training courses booked for Israelis that have been cancelled by the UK in each of the last 5 years. \p Al Carns: The Ministry of Defence has not withdrawn any places allocated to Israel on UK training or education courses in the last five years.

As you will be aware, the Government took the decision to pause Israeli attendance on UK professional military education given our concerns about the on-going Israeli campaign in Gaza. We will keep this decision under review.
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Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to respond to Questions 75477, 75478, 75479 on National Armaments Director Group: Costs. \p Luke Pollard: I responded to the right hon. Member on 24 September 2025.
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Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has introduced procurement control measures for spending levels that require clearance by the Secretary of State. \p Luke Pollard: In year controls are used across the Department to manage its performance against the Defence budget as part of good financial management.

The Secretary of State for Defence continues to have oversight of this process.
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Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether Andy Start will remain the Acting National Armaments Director for the whole length of his contract. \p Luke Pollard: Andy Start was appointed acting National Armaments Director (NAD) as part of the establishment of the wider NAD Group in March 2025. Recruitment of a permanent NAD is ongoing and an appointment will be made in due course.
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Julia Lopez:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will itemise each (a) contract awarded and (b) payment made to Public Digital by his Department since 4 July 2024. \p Chris Ward: All contract award information is available on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk.

All CO spend information above £25,000 is published on a monthly basis and is available on Gov.Uk - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cabinet-office-spend-data
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Julia Lopez:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the SFIA rate card in Annex 5 of the signed Work Order for Project_7114, published on Contracts Finder on 9 July 2025, if he will (a) publish the underlying rate card and (b) disclose any mark-up charged by Bloom Procurement Services Ltd on rates paid to Public Digital Ltd. \p Chris Ward: This information is commercially sensitive and therefore cannot be disclosed.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, what procurement reforms will his Department introduce to improve the process in order to secure government contracts. \p Chris Ward: The UK’s Procurement Act, introduced by the previous administration, came into force on 24 February 2025 alongside a National Procurement Policy Statement aligning procurement to this Government's missions.

This Government also announced on 26 June 2025 a new 10-week consultation entitled Public Procurement - Growing British industry, jobs and skills.

These reforms aim to go further to strengthen the UK’s economic resilience and support British businesses. Our proposals will protect supply chains, support our businesses, create good local jobs, and deliver greater value for taxpayers.

We will set out our response and further measures shortly.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information (a) his Department and (b) the Crown Commercial Service hold on the fee structures used by Bloom Procurement Services Ltd under the NEPRO3 framework; and what proportion of public contracts awarded through NEPRO3 in the 2024–25 financial year involved an undisclosed intermediary fee. \p Chris Ward: The price of each individual work order procured through Bloom Procurement Services Ltd for the Cabinet Office includes the 5% Delivery Partner’s Managed Services Fee. No other fees are applied.

The Crown Commercial Service holds no information on the fee structures or intermediary fees used by Bloom Procurement Services Ltd under the NEPRO3 framework.
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Julia Lopez:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to contract reference Contract_17123 for the Public Sector Reform Test, Learn and Grow Strategic Delivery Partner, how many suppliers were invited to bid for the contract through Bloom Procurement Services Ltd; and whether Public Digital Ltd was directly nominated. \p Chris Ward: 8 Suppliers were invited to bid for the work order through Bloom Procurement Services Ltd and all 8 of the suppliers were directly nominated.
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Julia Lopez:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will commission an investigation by the Government Internal Audit Agency into contracts awarded to Public Digital since 4 July 2024. \p Chris Ward: The Government Internal Audit Agency sits within HM Treasury. The Procurement Review Unit (PRU) sits within Cabinet Office and is responsible for the new oversight powers introduced by the Procurement Act 2023 (PA23) (which commenced on 24 February 2025) which governs the award of public contracts. The PRU has not received a referral to investigate contracts awarded to Public Digital.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of (a) 17 July 2025 to Question 62333 on Cabinet Office: Electronic Purchasing Card Solutio and (b) 15 July 2025, to Question 66656 on Government Hospitality: Wines, for what reason wine was procured from Berry Bros rather than from the Government Wine Cellar. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: A small stock is held to offer to dignitaries and visitors at short notice. This purchase was made when the stock was found to be empty. Any hospitality purchases for these occasions are made with value-for-money for the taxpayer as a priority.
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Alex Burghart:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether any information in the files obtained by Bloomberg relating to Jeffrey Epstein and Lord Mandelson was not previously disclosed during the due diligence process. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: I refer the Hon Member to the response of the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, in the Emergency Debate on this topic on 16 September (Volume 772, Columns 1384-1391).
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Ben Goldsborough:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether she has considered taking legislative steps to ensure that leaders of UK political parties publish their tax returns. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: Under the MPs Code of Conduct, the Leaders of UK political parties who are MPs are required to declare any financial interest which might reasonably be thought to influence their actions, however there is no requirement in the parliamentary rules for Leaders, or any other MP, to publish their tax returns. The Government has no plans to introduce requirements for the leaders of UK political parties to publish their tax returns.
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UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-13 conversation_173

Lee Anderson:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what purposes their Department has used artificial intelligence in the last year. \p Chris Ward: Over the last year, the Cabinet Office has used artificial intelligence to enhance efficiency, improve productivity, and accelerate operational speed across government.

The Department’s goal has been to use AI - where reasonable and possible to do so - to free up officials to focus on higher value strategic work and delivering on the country’s priorities. There are significant potential gains from safe and responsible AI adoption within the public sector.

Guidance on this can be found in the Government’s AI playbook and strategy.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-13 conversation_174

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the judgement in George Greenwood v The Information Commissioner & Anor, [2025] UKFTT 391 (GRC), whether his Department has issued guidance to government bodies on whether staff who have left a public authority are subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000. \p Chris Ward: The Cabinet Office has not issued Freedom of Information guidance to departments relating to the judgement in George Greenwood v The Information Commissioner & The Cabinet Office, [2025] UKFTT 391 (GRC).
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-13 conversation_175

Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has made payments to Inter Mediate since 4 July 2024. \p Chris Ward: The Cabinet Office has no record of any payments made to Inter Mediate since 4 July 2024
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-13 conversation_176

Justin Madders:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, who is Chair of the Future of Work Committee. \p Chris Ward: The full list of Cabinet committees and their membership is available on Gov.uk (List of Cabinet Committees and their membership - GOV.UK).

The Future of Work Committee was chaired by the former Deputy Prime Minister, and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. Exact changes are yet to be confirmed. Parliament will be updated on changes to Cabinet committees in the usual way before being published on Gov.uk.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-13 conversation_177

Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his Department's policy is on allowing trade union activities to be funded from trade union facility time at public expense. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The Cabinet Office Facility Time Framework states that the default position within the Civil Service is that paid time off will not be given for trade union activities. In exceptional circumstances, should a department wish to provide paid time off for activities, it will need to be agreed by their Secretary of State or Chief Executive.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-13 conversation_178

Rachel Blake:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will take steps to consult on extending the definition of those who can be lobbied to trigger registration to include (a) Members of Parliament, (b) peers, (c) senior civil servants and (d) special advisers. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The Government continues to keep transparency around lobbying under review, and will factor into consideration any relevant international comparators, and PACAC's post-legislative scrutiny of the 2014 Lobbying Act, as any policy reforms are considered.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-13 conversation_179

Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of clause 3(2)(a) of the Public Authority (Accountability) Bill on freedom of speech. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The Public Office (Accountability) Bill - known as the ‘Hillsborough Law’ - was introduced in Parliament on 16 September 2025. The Bill includes a new offence of misleading the public. It applies where a public authority or public official acts with the intention of misleading the public (or is reckless as to that possibility) and they know, or ought to know, that their act is seriously improper. This offence has been designed with Hillsborough at the front of mind and is intended to capture the most serious instances of public officials or authorities misleading the public.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-13 conversation_180

Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on what date 10 Downing Street became aware of the text messages that led to the resignation of the Prime Minister's Director of Strategy on 15 September 2025. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: It would not be appropriate to comment on individuals.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-13 conversation_181

Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 3 September 2025, to Question 70477, on Cabinet Office: Marketing, how much has been spent on digital influencers by the New Media Unit since its establishment. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The total amount spent on digital influencer marketing by the New Media Unit since its establishment is £114,796.51. This investment has supported multiple campaigns of varying scale and reach. Influencers have proven to be effective in reaching audiences that traditional marketing channels find hard to reach.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-13 conversation_182

Jim Shannon:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will take steps to ensure that companies involved in major (a) governance and (b) accountability failures are subject to enhanced scrutiny before providing critical public services. \p Chris Ward: Government efficiency, transparency and accountability are key pillars of the Procurement Act 2023 which came into force this year. The Act establishes a new exclusions framework that makes it easier to exclude suppliers who have underperformed in the delivery of other public contracts or acted improperly in procurement. The Act has also created a debarment list which will publicly list suppliers who must or may be excluded from contracts.

The new Central Digital Platform is also improving accessibility to procurement data, ensuring accountability and enabling the public and stakeholders to scrutinise spending decisions and track procurement outcomes.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-13 conversation_183

Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Prime Minister was informed of the content of the files obtained by Bloomberg relating to Lord Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The Prime Minister knew the content of the emails obtained by Bloomberg early in the evening of Wednesday 10 September.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-13 conversation_184

Dan Norris:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what progress is being made on paying compensation to people affected by the Infected Blood Scandal. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The delivery of compensation is a matter for the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA). As of 9 September, IBCA has contacted 3,471 people to start their compensation claim, and 3,122 have started the claim process. 1,615 offers of compensation have been made, totalling over £1.2 billion, and so far 1,299 people have accepted their offers with more than £897 million paid in compensation. This means, as of 9 September, over 90% of infected people registered with a support scheme have been contacted to begin their claim.

IBCA expects the first claims from the cohort of people who are infected but have never been compensated, as they are not registered with an infected blood support scheme, to begin in October 2025. IBCA will also start the first claims for deceased infected people, and affected people, by December 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-13 conversation_185

Sarah Owen:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the use of X for Government communications is in accordance with the (a) propriety and ethics guidance of the Government Communications Service, (b) Civil Service Code, and (c) Public Sector Equality Duty. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The Government Communication Service (GCS) SAFE (Safety and suitability, Ads context, Freedom of speech, and Ethics and enforcement) Framework is the single, comprehensive framework that the government uses to regularly provide thorough guidance ensuring use of digital advertising environments is appropriate. SAFE supports the principles of GCS propriety and ethics guidance, the Civil Service Code and the Public Sector Equality Duty.

The platform X is currently used for non-paid communications activity only (also known as 'organic' activity). We review the use of different platforms as needed, to ensure we meet the high standards set out in the SAFE Framework.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-13 conversation_186

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many visits by Ministers in his Department took place in constituencies represented by (a) Labour, (b) Conservative and (c) other hon. Members in the period between 4 July 2024 and 2 July 2025. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: This information isn’t centrally held.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-13 conversation_187

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Minister of Cabinet Office, further to the Prime Minister's visit to the offices of Palantir Technologies in Washington with Lord Mandelson on 27 February 2025, whether any minutes were taken at that meeting. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: This was not a formal meeting, therefore we do not hold any minutes.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-13 conversation_188

Paul Holmes:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the former Deputy Prime Minister’s official residence in Admiralty House will be allocated to another Cabinet Minister. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The Prime Minister can allocate official residences gifted to the Government to support Ministers in their official duties. This has been the case under decades of successive governments.

An update on any new allocations will be provided in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-13 conversation_189

Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of online safety regulations for protecting people against harmful advice provided by AI chatbots. \p Kanishka Narayan: Services with AI chatbots regulated under the Online Safety Act have duties to protect all users from illegal content and children from age inappropiate content. This includes harmful advice if it is illegal content or meets the definition of harmful content to children under the Act.

The Government keeps all legislation under review and we will not hesitate to strengthen the law further if required.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-13 conversation_190

Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to help ensure that parents receive adequate information on (a) the use of (i) parental controls and (ii) virtual private networks and (b) other steps to keep children safe online. \p Kanishka Narayan: DSIT has funded media literacy projects, including Parent Zone’s ‘Everyday Digital’, to help parents understand online safety. On 12 September 2025, DSIT published research exploring what support parents need to keep children safe online. Ofcom has also released a guide for parents on how new Online Safety Act measures will protect children online, including advice and links to trusted resources.

Virtual private networks have many legitimate uses. The Government and Ofcom continue to monitor whether technologies can be used to seek to circumvent the protections of the Act for children.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-13 conversation_191

Catherine McKinnell:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to roll out gigabit connectivity to remaining properties in Newcastle upon Tyne North constituency. \p Ian Murray: According to the independent website Thinkbroadband.com, almost 96% of premises in the Newcastle upon Tyne North constituency can already access a gigabit-capable broadband connection (>=1,000 Mbps).

We have created a pro-competition regulatory environment for the rollout of gigabit broadband. We expect further premises in the hon. Member’s constituency to be connected via broadband suppliers’ commercial rollout.

Any premises which do not receive a gigabit-capable connection through suppliers’ commercial rollout will be considered for inclusion within Project Gigabit, in line with the government’s commitment to achieving nationwide gigabit coverage by 2032.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-13 conversation_192

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of recent attacks on Christian communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and what diplomatic steps she is taking to (a) protect the Christian community and (b) promote religious freedom in the country. \p Chris Elmore: We condemn the horrifying attacks by Islamic State-affiliated Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) on Christian communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We have raised the actions of the ADF in the UN repeatedly and have sanctioned them under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act. UK Ministers and senior officials, including our Ambassador in Kinshasa, regularly raise the importance of protecting civilians with the Government of DRC. We continue to remind all parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law and stress that those who have committed human rights violations and abuses must be held accountable.  The UK Special Envoy for freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) plays a critical role in promoting FoRB, through global diplomatic engagement, our engagement in multilateral fora, and UK and programme funding. The UK will continue to work through UN bodies and other multilateral fora to promote and protect these rights in the DRC.