theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

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Seamus Logan:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the press release entitled Government to launch £360m Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund, published on 19 May 2025, whether the fund will be UK-wide; and what the Barnet consequentials will be for each of the devolved Administrations. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Fishing & Coastal Growth Fund will be investing £360 million over the next 12 years. As part of that fund Ministers committed to working closely with the industry and local communities in order to ensure investment is targeted to where it is needed most. As part of that planned engagement we will work closely with Devolved Governments.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

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Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the quantity of illegal food products that have entered the UK in the last six months. \p Daniel Zeichner: It is not possible to estimate the amount of illegal food products which have evaded border checks and entered the UK in the last six months. Data supplied by Border Force to the end of 2024 indicates that it detained and seized 137,000 kilograms of illegal animal products and 18,000 kilograms of illegal plants and plant products at the UK border in the last six months of 2024.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

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Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to increase biosecurity. \p Daniel Zeichner: Biosecurity is paramount – it underpins safe food; protects human, animal and plant health; and supports a prospering economy and trade. This Government will be decisive and take the necessary action to protect our country from new and emerging and notifiable disease threats.

We have in place robust measures to maintain and improve our ability to understand, detect, prevent, respond and recover from outbreaks. We monitor new and emerging threats to our biosecurity through our Veterinary Risk Group, Plant Heath Risk Group and the Human and Animal Infections Risk Surveillance Group, and our strong surveillance network provides an early warning system to detect signs of disease, pests or other threats such as antimicrobial resistance.

This Government will act quickly to prevent pests and diseases entering the country by putting restrictions in place at the border. Our disease contingency plans are regularly reviewed to ensure they remain fit for purpose and that we have the necessary capacity and capability to respond to outbreaks should they occur. As part of this, the Government is committed to delivering a National Biosecurity Centre at the Animal and Plant Health Agency Weybridge campus - a world leading science centre protecting people and animals from disease outbreaks. We are also promoting best practice while providing practical support to livestock keepers in England through the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the £360 million Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund announced on 19 May 2025 will be used to provide new (a) technology and (b) equipment to modernise the fleet. \p Daniel Zeichner: We have launched the £360 million “Fishing & Coastal Growth Fund” to support the next generation of fishermen and breathe new life into our coastal communities.

We will engage with the industry to target investment where it matters most. For example, considering investment in new technology and equipment to modernise our fishing fleet, delivering new training and skills to back the next generation of fishers, and promoting the seafood sector to export our high-quality produce across the world.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

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Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent changes he has made to the Capital Grants scheme. \p Daniel Zeichner: Defra announced on 24 February 2025 that the standalone Capital Grants scheme will re-open in summer 2025. We will introduce maximum grant thresholds for 4 groups of capital items in the standalone capital offer, from summer 2025. The thresholds will be £25,000 for water quality, air quality and natural flood management and £35,000 for boundaries, trees, and orchards. We will confirm the date that the standalone Capital Grants scheme will re-open and announce any further changes to the scheme in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

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Daisy Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing inspectors to carry out sanitary and phytosanitary checks at border control points after 5pm. \p Daniel Zeichner: Border Control Posts (BCPs) and Control Points already operate on a range of schedules. The inspection hours are determined by the competent authorities and are based on factors such as the volume of traffic, arrival times, and the resources available at each specific point of entry.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

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Daisy Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of reforming the UK/EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement to improve the ability of businesses to trade in EU countries. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Prime Minister welcomed President of the European Commission Ursula Von Der Leyen and President of the EU Council António Costa to London for a UK-EU Summit on 19 May.

At that Summit we agreed the parameters for a Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement to make agrifood trade with our biggest market cheaper and easier, cutting costs and red tape for British producers and retailers, and increasing choice in the shops.

This agreement will reduce delays and paperwork at the border, make it easier and cheaper to take pets on holiday into the EU, and trade in products such as fresh sausages and burgers will be able to resume.

Further information can be found at UK-EU Summit - Explainer (HTML) - GOV.UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if they will make it their policy to not provide (a) translation and (b) interpretation for speakers of non-UK languages for services provided by their Department. \p Daniel Zeichner: Language service needs and spend are assessed to ensure these services offer good value for money for taxpayers while maintaining high standards of service delivery.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

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Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of a foot and mouth disease outbreak on the dairy sector. \p Daniel Zeichner: The impacts of a reasonable worst-case scenario outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) were assessed in 2023 for the National Risk Register which is available on GOV.UK. These national risks are reviewed on a regular basis, taking into account new developments.

Defra has robust contingency plans in place to manage the risk of FMD as set out in the Foot and Mouth Disease Control Strategy for Great Britain supported by the Contingency plan for exotic notifiable diseases of animals in England. Defra continues to adapt its policies in response to developments and remains committed to protecting the UK’s biosecurity and livestock sector. In response to the outbreaks of FMD in Europe, this includes working with Dairy UK to update the milk code of practice for FMD, which is a set of guidelines for milk hauliers, processors, and buyers to prevent the spread of FMD through milk and dairy products.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

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Daisy Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Leading food experts join Government food strategy to restore pride in British food, published on 21 March 2025, what steps he is taking to ensure the planned Food Strategy incorporates all parts of the food supply chain in its development. \p Daniel Zeichner: Since announcing the food strategy in December 2024, we have been building a coalition with the food sector, academics, charities, civil society, citizens and key thinkers.

The Food Strategy Advisory Board serves to stress test ideas and provide advice. We have hosted roundtables with academics. Our four, multi-stakeholder workshops in May include people chosen to represent a broad range of food system interests. There will be ongoing sectoral and thematic conversations through May and June, utilising existing Defra stakeholder groups. We are also working with The Food Foundation and Food Farming Countryside Commission to ensure the citizen’s voice is heard. This is just the start of the conversation, and stakeholders across the food supply chain will be engaged.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to increase the number of apprenticeship starts in his Department. \p Daniel Zeichner: We remain committed to supporting the use of apprenticeships across all departments as part of this Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity. This includes supporting the Government's commitment to 2,000 digital apprenticeships through its TechTrack scheme by 2030 to improve digital skills and drive improvements and efficiency in public services.

Additionally, a new cross-Government Level 3 apprenticeship programme in Business Administration, the Civil Service Career Launch Apprenticeship, will see new apprentices kickstart their careers, across various departments, starting from January 2026.

In addition, Defra has a group apprenticeship strategy with a clear ambition for year-on-year growth in enrolments. There is a focus on areas where apprenticeships can support organisational priorities, career development for existing staff and addressing key skills gaps.

These include:

Following a successful pilot of a Data Protection and Information Governance cohort in 2023, plans for recruitment of a second cohort in early 2026 have begun.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

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Sarah Champion:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of a veterinary agreement with the EU. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Prime Minister welcomed President of the European Commission Ursula Von Der Leyen and President of the EU Council António Costa to London for a UK-EU Summit on 19 May.

At that Summit we have agreed the parameters for a Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement making agrifood trade with our biggest market cheaper and easier, cutting costs and red tape for British producers and retailers, and increasing choice in the shops.

This agreement will reduce delays and paperwork at the border, make it easier and cheaper to take pets on holiday into the EU, and trade in products such as fresh sausages and burgers will be able to resume.

The holistic merits of an SPS agreement could see an increase in the volume of UK exports of major agricultural commodities to the EU by around 16% and increase imports from the EU by around 8%; the agreement could also add up to £5.1 billion a year to our economy in the long run. Specifically, GB goods such as dairy, fish, eggs and red meat currently subject to 100% documentary checks and up to 30% physical checks will see these removed entirely; further merits can be found at UK-EU Summit - Explainer - GOV.UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate her Department has made of the male estate prison capacity in 2028. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: This Government inherited a prison system in crisis due to the previous government only adding 500 places to the estate in 14 years. If our prisons collapse, courts are forced to suspend trials. The police must halt their arrests, crime goes unpunished, and we face the breakdown of law and order in this country.

We are building the largest expansion of the prison estate since the Victorians, with 14,000 places by 2031. We have already delivered 2,400 places since taking office.

But it is clear that given the rate of demand, we cannot build our way out of this. As the Lord Chancellor set out this week on current forecasts by early 2028, we will be 9,500 places short without further action.

That is why she commissioned and published the Independent Sentencing Review to ensure that we never again run out of prison places and that there will always be space to lock up dangerous offenders.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that individuals who are subject to police investigations are provided with appropriate (a) legal and (b)reputational protections. \p Sarah Sackman: Those under police investigation are entitled to free, independent, legal advice at the police station, through the provision of criminal legal aid. Legal aid is a vital part of the justice system and enables individuals, who need it most, to have access to publicly funded legal assistance to uphold their legal rights.

The Department has taken significant steps to support the criminal legal aid profession. In December 2024, we announced that criminal legal aid solicitors will receive up to £92 million more a year, subject to consultation, to support the sustainability of the criminal legal aid market. The consultation is now live and closes on 4 July 2025. The funding is in addition to the £24 million increase we announced in November 2024 for criminal solicitors. This latest commitment reflects the vital work that is undertaken by those who provide criminal legal aid and demonstrates our commitment to safeguarding the legal needs of those who rely upon their services.

In relation to reputational protections for individuals who are subject to police investigations, the Government is unable to comment on or intervene in individual police investigations, so as not to undermine the Police’s operational independence. Where a police force investigates an individual, the force is expected to use their judgement on how best to support those involved throughout and after conclusion of the investigation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

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Ben Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she is taking to monitor the impact of the cyber attack on the Legal Aid Agency on legal aid applicants; and steps he is taking to compensate any lost incurred by legal aid applicants following the cyber attack. \p Sarah Sackman: To ensure the best chance of reaching as many potentially impacted individuals as possible the Ministry of Justice published a notice as swiftly as possible at 08:15 on 19 May on GOV.UK

The statement provides information about the cyber attack and directs concerned members of the public to the National Cyber Security Centre’s webpage, which contains information on how to protect yourself from the impact of a data breach.

The cyber-attack is subject to an ongoing investigation, and we are working closely with the National Crime Agency and the National Cyber Security Centre. Appropriate actions have been taken to mitigate the impact of the attack, including taking digital services offline. Contingency measures have been put in place to ensure those most in need of legal support and advice can continue to access the help they need during this time. This is an evolving situation, and we continue to update legal providers and users as it develops. To ensure that legal aid providers have the latest position with respect to legal aid applications and billing contingencies, and that affected parties can access the latest developments on the incident, the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) has created a dedicated space with contingencies and useful resources on GOV.UK.

This data breach is the result of heinous criminal activity but it was enabled by the fragility of the LAA’s IT systems as a result of the long years of neglect and mismanagement of the justice system under the last Conservative Government. Upon taking office, I was shocked to see how fragile our legal aid systems were. They knew about the vulnerabilities of the Legal Aid Agency digital systems, but did not act. By contrast, since taking office, this Government has prioritised work to reverse the damage of over a decade of under-investment. That includes the allocation of over £20 million in extra funding this year to stabilise and transform the Legal Aid Agency digital services. This investment will make the system more robust and resilient in the face of similar cyber attacks in future.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she is taking to ensure that disabled court users have equal access to (a) legal representation and (b) appropriate support in court jurisdictions. \p Sarah Sackman: Legally-aided advice and representation is available to disabled people on the same basis as it is to the wider population. The issue must usually be in-scope of legal aid, and applicants are subject to means and merits tests, if applicable.

Duty solicitors may be available in some proceedings to help ensure individuals, regardless of disability, are able to access representation.

The Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service offers on the day in-court emergency representation to anyone at risk of losing their home.

At the magistrates’ court, a disabled person who has been charged with a criminal offence is entitled to the same legal protections and support as any other defendant. This includes access to the Court Duty Solicitor Scheme, which provides free legal advice and assistance to unrepresented individuals on their first appearance.

With regards to financial eligibility for legal aid, there are several disability-related payments that are disregarded from the income assessment for criminal and civil legal aid. These include Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, direct payments and Attendance Allowance.

Our current grant programmes are providing over £6 million of grant funding up to March 2026 to over 60 organisations across the advice sector. This funding will help organisations to sustain and improve their legal support provision, including support at court where necessary.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) provides reasonable adjustments for disabled court and tribunal users in accordance with its legal duty under the Equality Act 2010. To meet its wider Public Sector Equality Duty and the commitments in its vulnerability action plan, HMCTS also has a wider duty to take steps to avoid treating people less favourably because of their disability. Court and tribunal users are encouraged to get in touch with HMCTS to discuss any particular adjustments or support they require, to enable their individual needs to be met when they attend court.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

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Ayoub Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the proposals in Law Commission’s report entitled Modernising Wills Law, published on 15 May 2025. \p Sarah Sackman: The Government has welcomed the Law Commission’s comprehensive report on the law of making a will and will be giving the report careful consideration.

This is the first major review of the law on making wills since the Wills Act 1837, and the reforms proposed by the Law Commission are significant and wide ranging. They deserve detailed consideration. The Government recognises that the current law is outdated, and we must embrace change, but the guiding principle in doing so will be to ensure that reform does not compromise existing freedoms or protecting the elderly and vulnerable in society from undue influence.

The Government will make further announcements in due course, once it has given the report the detailed consideration it deserves.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

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Ben Goldsborough:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people were prosecuted under the single justice procedure by offence in each month of 2024; and what the plea rates were for offences charged under the single justice procedure in the same period. \p Sarah Sackman: The requested information is provided in the attached table.

The Government is concerned about the consistency in standards of private prosecutors, including those who use the Single Justice Procedure. This is why we launched a consultation on the oversight and regulation of private prosecutors and safeguards in the Single Justice Procedure. The consultation closed on 08 May and we are considering our response carefully.

PQ 53351 Table (xlsx, 60.0KB)
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

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Dr Roz Savage:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the financial history of Macquarie Asset Management; and what weight is given to past financial performance in the assessment process for major energy infrastructure applications. \p Michael Shanks: The Government does not comment on individual applications. Any applicant seeking development consent for an energy-related nationally significant infrastructure project must submit a Funding Statement as part of the application process. The Funding Statement is reviewed by the Planning Inspectorate and the Secretary of State for adequacy of funding to cover the applicant’s liabilities for the project. Past financial performance does not hold any weight when the Secretary of State considers the overall planning balance.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of China General Nuclear Power Corporation’s involvement in the construction of Hinkley Point C on cyber-security. \p Michael Shanks: To build and operate a nuclear site, a security plan, which includes cyber security, must be put in place and approved by the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR). The ONR, an independent regulator, then ensures that plan is effectively enforced.

The security of nuclear facilities will continue to remain paramount for ONR and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

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David Mundell:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 15 May 2025 to Question 51426 on Energy: Meters, what the sequence will be of the phased switch off of the Radio Teleswitch Service from the end of June. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: Energy suppliers led by the RTS Taskforce are planning a careful phase out of the Radio Teleswitch Service from 30 June. The Government is working closely with the RTS Taskforce, industry and Ofgem to ensure the phase out process is planned effectively and consumers are appropriately protected.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to support households that may not have their electricity meters replaced before the 30 June 2025 deadline through no fault of their own. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Government has made clear to industry that suppliers must fulfil their obligations to customers and drive up the rate of Radio Teleswitch (RTS) meter replacements.

As part of the RTS Taskforce we are doing all that we can to protect consumers from any negative impacts, and make sure that the carefully managed phase out process of RTS from 30 June is as smooth as possible for consumers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending the 30 June 2025 deadline for electricity meter replacements in cases where delays are due to supplier constraints. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The industry-led Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) is reaching the end of its operational life and can no longer be adequately maintained.

There will be a carefully managed phase out of the service starting from 30 June. The Government is working closely with the RTS Taskforce to ensure the phase out process is planned effectively and consumers are appropriately protected.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to protect consumers from increased energy costs if their electricity meters are not replaced by the 30 June 2025 deadline. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: Ofgem has announced its intention to introduce RTS specific licence conditions for suppliers to protect consumers from the risk of heating and hot water supply disruption and higher bills. Ofgem has recently consulted on this and will publish a response in the coming weeks.

These new protections are in addition to current conditions put on suppliers to ensure that a suitable alternative metering system is installed in RTS premises and that consumers’ services are not disrupted.
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Sammy Wilson:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his French counterpart on the attack on a Muslim worshipper in La Grand-Combe on 25 April 2025; and what steps he is taking to help support (a) freedom of religion or belief and (b) the protection of religious minorities in that country. \p Stephen Doughty: The UK is strongly committed to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all abroad. The UK champions the right to FoRB and promoting tolerance and mutual respect through our position at the UN, G7, and other multilateral fora, and in our bilateral work. Ministers and officials engage with their French counterparts on a broad range of issues and the UK works with France and other partners through the International Contact Group on FoRB. This group met most recently in the margins of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in March. Officials also regularly engage with faith leaders in France.
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Sir Iain Duncan Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the use of surveillance technology by authoritarian governments to target religious minorities; and what steps he is taking to ensure UK-based companies are not complicit in such repression through the (a) export and (b) licensing of relevant technologies. \p Stephen Doughty: The UK remains strongly committed to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all abroad. We are working bilaterally and multilaterally to hold countries to account for repression of religious or belief minorities.

The UK takes its export control responsibilities very seriously and we operate one of the most robust export control regimes in the world. We will not grant an export licence for controlled surveillance technology, if to do so would be inconsistent with the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, including if there is a clear risk that the items might be used to commit or facilitate internal repression. The UK has measures in place to ensure that the development, sale, export and use of any UK commercial surveillance tools happens responsibly. Such tools must not be used to facilitate arbitrary and unlawful surveillance, including the targeting of individuals or members of a group based on discriminatory grounds, or to violate or abuse human rights and fundamental freedoms.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

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Euan Stainbank:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Thousands of Civil Service roles moved out of London in latest reform to the state, published on 14 May 2025, what assessment his Department has made of the economic impact of relocating civil service jobs from London to (a) Glasgow, (b) Edinburgh, and (c) Aberdeen on Scottish cities. \p Georgia Gould: Places for Growth published a formative evaluation report in October 2024, which outlined that the programme is on track to deliver an estimated £729m in local economic benefits to cross Government locations between 2024 and 2030. Further details on the programme will be set out in the Spending Review after which an assessment will be undertaken. Places for Growth is committed to ongoing programme evaluation.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Model Special Adviser Contract published on the Government's website, if he will publish a copy of the equivalent template contract for Permanent Secretaries. \p Georgia Gould: As has been the case under successive administrations, contracts for Permanent Secretaries and all other SCS are not published publicly so we will not be placing a copy on GOV.UK.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 19 October 2023 to Question 202664 on Cabinet Office: Senior Civil Servants, how many (a) Directors and (b) Director Generals there are in the Cabinet Office; and how many of those are on secondment from other departments. \p Georgia Gould: As of the 30th April 2025 there were less than 5 individuals on secondment to the Cabinet Office as Directors or Director Generals. Details of the number of Directors and Director Generals can be found in the quarterly organogram published at https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/ff76be1f-4f37-4bef-beb7-32b259413be1/organogram-cabinet-office.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 10 April 2025 to Question 42045 on Cabinet Office: Buildings, what the condition is of the building at 36 Whitehall. \p Georgia Gould: 36 Whitehall requires major repairs to bring back into use. Options for the future use of the building continue to be discussed as part of plans for the Government’s London office estate, with any final decisions being made as part of the ongoing Spending Review process.
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Munira Wilson:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to answer Question 49434 tabled on 30 April 2025 by the hon. Member for Twickenham. \p Georgia Gould: With apologies to the hon. Member, a response has now been issued.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's guidance entitled Non-Executive Board Member declaration of interests process, published on 28 November 2024, para 37, when he plans to publish the interests of board members. \p Georgia Gould: The Non-Executive Board Member interests will be published in the coming weeks. The most recent publication of interests was in November 2024 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cabinet-office-register-of-board-members-interests-2023-to-2024/cabinet-office-register-of-board-members-interests-2023-to-2024)
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-27 conversation_63

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which public bodies are affiliated to the Government Communication Service. \p Georgia Gould: The Government Communication Service (GCS) is the professional body for public service communicators working across central Government, Arms Length Bodies, Agencies, and other public bodies. The role of GCS is to support ministers' priorities, enable effective operation of public services, and ensure people have access to the information they need from the Government.
wrans/answers2025-05-27 conversation_64
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-27 conversation_64

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 10 April 2025 to Question HL6032 on Arms Length Bodies, what the target date is for each of the proposed public bodies to be operational. \p Georgia Gould: Individual departments are responsible for completion of the approval process and any necessary legislation for proposed arm’s-length bodies (ALBs) to become operational. The Cabinet Office does not collect projected launch dates for new bodies.
wrans/answers2025-05-27 conversation_65
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-27 conversation_65

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many civil servants are (a) EU and (b) Turkish nationals. \p Georgia Gould: While pre-employment right to work checks verify civil servants meet the Civil Service Nationality Rules, which includes permitting the right to work in the UK Civil Service to certain EEA and Turkish nationals, once that process is complete we do not retain this information.

However, Civil Service workforce data including sex, religion, ethnicity, and more, is stored, and is published annually in the Statistical bulletin - Civil Service Statistics on GOV.UK.
wrans/answers2025-05-27 conversation_66
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-27 conversation_66

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people have been recruited to the Civil Service in roles that permit full-time home working in the last 12 months. \p Georgia Gould: The Cabinet Office does not hold this data as decisions about their workforce and working arrangements are delegated to individual departments.

Civil Service leaders are clear that civil servants should be in the workplace where needed to drive delivery and they should adhere to their contractual obligations. Workplace attendance has an important role in effective service delivery to the public as reflected in the 60% office attendance expectation for all office based civil servants.
wrans/answers2025-05-27 conversation_67
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-27 conversation_67

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 1 May 2025 to Question 48561 on Data, Statistics and Research on Sex and Gender Independent Review, if he will ask the (a) National Statistician and (b) Chief Executive of UK Statistics Authority to publish a response to the recommendations once they have considered the report. \p Georgia Gould: The UK Statistics Authority (UKSA), including the Office for National Statistics (ONS), is a Non Ministerial Department and is accountable to the UK Parliament, the Scottish Parliament, the Sennedd and the Northern Ireland Executive.

As an independent statutory body, it is a matter for the UKSA and the ONS as to how they choose to respond to the independent review of data, statistics and research on sex and gender that was published by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 19 March 2025.
wrans/answers2025-05-27 conversation_68
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-27 conversation_68

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 16 January 2025 to Question 22583 on Government Departments: Procurement, what further discussions he has had with the Institution of Civil Engineers on releasing a new edition of the Construction Playbook. \p Georgia Gould: Cabinet Office officials regularly engage with the ICE and other industry leading organisations, many of which are signatories to our ‘Compact with Industry’. The Construction Playbook is regularly refreshed in collaboration with industry and the public sector, ensuring it remains relevant and effective. The Government remains committed to publishing an update to the Construction Playbook. The revised version of the Construction Playbook is expected to be published in Q2 2025.
wrans/answers2025-05-27 conversation_69
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-27 conversation_69

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 6 May 2025 to Question 49055 on Government Departments: Equality, if he will publish the facility time framework. \p Georgia Gould: A copy of the Facility Time Framework and its supporting guidance has been deposited in the House Library.
wrans/answers2025-05-27 conversation_70
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-27 conversation_70

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Cabinet Office Public Bodies Team has assessed the Ethics and Integrity Commission against the requirement that the creation of a new arm's-length body should only be considered as a last resort; and whether his Department has provided evidence that alternative delivery models are being considered. \p Georgia Gould: Any proposals to create new public bodies will be considered by the government’s ongoing review of all ALBs, announced on 7 April. This review is part of the government’s plan to streamline the state by closing, merging or repatriating public bodies into departments unless their separate existence can be strongly justified.
wrans/answers2025-05-27 conversation_71
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-27 conversation_71

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 10 April 2025 to Question HL6032 on Arm's Length Bodies, whether the Child Protection Authority for England will be a new public body. \p Georgia Gould: The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Home Office, Minister Jess Phillips, announced on 8 April that the Government will establish a new Child Protection Authority which will be delivered from within the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel. It is not currently planned to be an arm’s-length body.
wrans/answers2025-05-27 conversation_72
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-27 conversation_72

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether trade union activity must be declared by people who are appointed to regulated public appointments. \p Georgia Gould: The Governance Code on Public Appointments requires that candidates for regulated public appointments must be asked to declare potential conflicts of interest in their application. It is the responsibility of the Advisory Assessment Panel to satisfy itself that all candidates for appointment can meet the standards set out in the Seven Principles of Public Life and have no conflicts of interest that would call into question their ability to perform the role. All potential conflicts of interest and how they might be managed must be discussed with an individual during the interview. A potential conflict should not preclude a candidate from being shortlisted or appointed provided that appropriate arrangements are made.
wrans/answers2025-05-27 conversation_73
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-27 conversation_73

Gregory Stafford:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to prevent unofficial websites from charging fees for government services that are otherwise free of charge. \p Georgia Gould: It is for those departments providing services to the public to ensure that third parties do not mislead citizens into making additional or unnecessary payments for accessing those services.
wrans/answers2025-05-27 conversation_74
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-27 conversation_74

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to ensure consistency of approach in its engagement policy. \p Georgia Gould: We take engagement seriously and adopt best practice as outlined by the Government's principles of engagement.

These principles of engagement are published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
wrans/answers2025-05-27 conversation_75
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-27 conversation_75

Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of changing the civil service pension scheme to a defined contribution model on costs to the public purse. \p Georgia Gould: Any assessment of moving the Civil Service Pension Scheme, or any other Public Service Pension Scheme, to a defined contribution model is the responsibility of HM Treasury. The Cabinet Office has responsibility for the Civil Service Pension Scheme only in respect of changing scheme rules to align with or ensure legal compliance with HM Treasury policy.
wrans/answers2025-05-27 conversation_76
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-27 conversation_76

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 48564 on Advisory Committee on Business Appointments and House of Lords Appointments Commission, what his planned timetable is for the recruitment of permanent members to those bodies. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: Ministers are considering the next steps for the recruitment of a permanent Chair to the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments and for the recruitment of independent members to the House of Lords Appointments Commission. Updates on these campaigns will be made in due course.
wrans/answers2025-05-27 conversation_77
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-27 conversation_77

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what (a) discussions and (b) correspondence staff in 10 Downing Street have had with (i) Tony Blair and (ii) the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change on (A) identity cards and (B) climate change since July 2024. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: Relevant meetings are declared in transparency publications.
wrans/answers2025-05-27 conversation_78
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-27 conversation_78

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many bedrooms the Deputy Prime Minister's residence in Admiralty House has. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: For security and operational reasons we do not disclose the layout of individual residences.
wrans/answers2025-05-27 conversation_79
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-27 conversation_79

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much has been spent on (a) refurbishment and (b) fixtures and fittings for the Deputy Prime Minister’s flat in Admiralty House since 4 July 2024. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: The maintenance of Admiralty House is managed by the Government Property Agency with costs accrued in the usual way, as has been the case for successive governments and Ministers.
wrans/answers2025-05-27 conversation_80
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-27 conversation_80

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the (a) electricity, (b) gas and (b) water utilities of the Admiralty House residences are individually metered. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: Utilities in Admiralty House residences are not individually metered.
wrans/answers2025-05-27 conversation_81
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-27 conversation_81

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether any services are provided to the Deputy Prime Minister’s residence in Admiralty House; and who is responsible for paying for those services. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: The maintenance of Admiralty House is managed by the Government Property Agency with costs accrued in the usual way, as has been the case for successive governments and Ministers.
wrans/answers2025-05-27 conversation_82
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-27 conversation_82

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for how long each of the unoccupied dwellings in Admiralty House has been empty. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: For security and operational reasons we do not disclose occupancy timings of individual residences.