theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Solicitor General, 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 Lucy Rigby: 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.

Regarding services provided by my department in particular, the Attorney General’s Office does not provide (a) translation and (b) interpretation for speakers of non-UK languages.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Solicitor General, how many cyclists have been prosecuted under the provisions of Section 35 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861 in each year since 2000. \p Lucy Rigby: The safety of our roads is a key priority for this government.

We have amended the Crime and Policing Bill to provide for new offences and penalties for dangerous cycling, updating legislation that is over 160 years old, to ensure that the tiny minority who recklessly disregard others face the full force of the law.

Cases of causing death or serious injury by dangerous or careless driving have usually been prosecuted under section 35 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 (OAPA 1861), but this offence applies to any person ‘having charge of any carriage or other vehicle’ and therefore does not solely apply to cyclists.

The earliest data held by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for prosecutions of offences under s. 35 OAPA 1861 is from 2005. Between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2024, the CPS authorised charges for 362 offences of causing injury by wanton and furious driving contrary to s. 35.

Of these charges, the CPS is unable to identify which offences involved defendants who were cyclists, without a manual review of each case, which would incur disproportionate cost.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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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 support (a) South Holland District Council and (b) South Kesteven District Council in reducing fly tipping incidents. \p Mary Creagh: Local authorities have a range of enforcement powers to help them tackle fly-tipping. These include prosecution, which can lead to a significant fine or even imprisonment, and powers to seize vehicles of suspected fly-tippers. They can also issue a fixed penalty notice of up to £1,000 to fly-tippers and £600 to householders who pass their waste to an unlicensed waste carrier, the income from which is kept by councils and must be spent on enforcement or cleaning up fly-tipping.

We encourage councils to make good use of their enforcement powers and we are currently taking steps to develop statutory guidance on fly-tipping enforcement. We have also announced a review of council powers to seize and crush vehicles of suspected fly-tippers, to identify how we could help councils make better use of this tool.

In our manifesto we committed to forcing fly-tippers to clean up the mess that they have created as part of a crackdown on anti-social behaviour. We will provide further details on this commitment in due course.

In the meantime, Defra continues to chair the National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group through which we work with a wide range of stakeholders, such as local authorities and the Environment Agency, to share good practice on preventing fly-tipping. Various practical tools are available from their webpage which is available at: https://www.keepbritaintidy.org/national-fly-tipping-prevention-group#.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Ellie Chowns:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of implementing Schedule 17 of the Environment Act before COP 30 in November 2025. \p Mary Creagh: The UK strongly supports global efforts to protect forests, including advocating for an international commitment to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030, while supporting livelihoods and economic development.
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Mr Toby Perkins:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of reductions in levels of Official Development Assistance spending on levels of funding for (a) the Darwin Initiative, (b) the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund and (c) Darwin Plus. \p Mary Creagh: No decisions have been made regarding future levels of funding for the Darwin Initiative, the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, or Darwin Plus. Defra will allocate budgets to its Official Development Assistance programmes for future Financial Years after Defra receives its Multi-Year Spending Review settlement.

The UK has a strong and pioneering record in overseas development and will continue to play a vital humanitarian role in crises such as those in Sudan, Ukraine, and Gaza, while tackling global challenges including climate change and biodiversity loss.
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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to support local supermarkets to ensure the adequate provision of battery bins. \p Mary Creagh: Under the current regulations, retailers selling more than 32kg of portable batteries must have a collection point at all premises from which batteries are supplied. Retailers can search online for a batteries compliance scheme who will collect these batteries free of charge and can advise in respect of collection bins. There is no legal requirement for retailers selling less than 32kg of batteries each year to make collection provisions, but they can still enquire with a battery compliance scheme as to how they may be able to assist. More information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/battery-waste-supplier-reponsibilities.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent estimate he has made of the level of the butterfly population across the UK. \p Mary Creagh: This Government is committed to restoring and protecting nature, including pollinator species such as butterflies.

The most recently published statistics on butterflies in the United Kingdom and in England for 2023 provides information on UK butterfly abundance as well as the major drivers of decline. In summary, on average the abundance of butterflies across the UK continues to show a long-term decline. This is due to a range of factors including weather patterns, habitat loss, pollution and the use of pesticides.

Defra partly funds the UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme (UK PoMS) which is the first scheme in the world to have begun (since 2017) generating systematic data on the abundance of bees, hoverflies and other flower-visiting insects at a national scale. Data collected through PoMS insect surveys contribute to providing an invaluable resource from which to measure trends in pollinator populations.

PoMS complements longer-running insect monitoring carried out by citizen scientists including the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS) and the Big Butterfly Count that runs from July into August.
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Sir Alec Shelbrooke:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with international investors on the potential impact of extended producer responsibility on the attractiveness of the UK as an investment destination. \p Mary Creagh: Defra and senior officials from the Dutch Government have met with representatives of the UK and Dutch finance sectors to set out a path toward closer cooperation in financing a circular economy. Both sets of officials, with support from the Dutch Banking Association, invited attendees to form a Circular Economy Finance Coalition. The Coalition will identify ways to boost investment in the transition to a circular economy, including developing the necessary infrastructure and innovative business models.

Investment is at the heart of the government’s growth mission, increasing the number of good, well-skilled jobs and improving productivity across the country. The UK has a strong track record attracting private investment – a testament to our strong economic foundations, including world-leading innovation, the rule of law, our ambitious transition to clean energy, and a supportive regulatory framework.

The UK remains a globally competitive destination with the lowest top-line corporation tax rate in the G7 at 25%; the joint most generous capital allowances regime for plant and machinery in the OECD; and R&D tax incentives up to 27% for SMEs and the joint highest uncapped rate in the G7 for large companies.
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Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 1 May 2025 to Question 41542 on Packaging: Recycling, which stakeholders his Department plans to engage with to discuss changes to the Package Recovery Note system. \p Mary Creagh: We intend to seek views from all those who may impacted by any of the proposed changes, including producers, compliance schemes, waste management companies, local authorities and reprocessors and exporters of packaging waste.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help reduce the number of abandoned caravans in Devon. \p Mary Creagh: The Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978 places a duty on councils to remove vehicles that are abandoned on land in the open air or on roads. The definition of vehicle within the act includes trailers designed to be towed behind vehicles. This would include caravans.

This duty applies on private land and private roads. Councils can take enforcement action against people who abandon vehicles by issuing a fixed penalty notice or prosecuting them. It is for councils to determine whether any particular vehicle has been abandoned, and whether it is subject to their duty to remove it. The Government has published guidance for councils on abandoned vehicles at: Abandoned vehicles: local authority responsibilities - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether there is a consolidated public list of each (a) public authority and (b) private body with public functions that is subject to the Environmental Information Regulations. \p Mary Creagh: No. There is no consolidated, public list of relevant bodies.

Bodies are made subject to the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR) through the definition in regulation 2(2), rather than by designation. The Information Commissioner has jurisdiction to both investigate and decide whether a body is a public authority for these purposes. This definitional approach requires a contextual inquiry. The Commissioner’s decision may be subject to appeal through the courts. At best, a list of public authorities would be incomplete and rapidly out of date.

Most public authorities subject to the EIR are listed by name or category in Schedule 1 to the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
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Dave Doogan:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of (a) trends in population levels of West African migratory bird species over the last 10 years and (b) the potential impact of the use of mist nets in West African countries on those populations. \p Mary Creagh: Defra has not made an assessment on trends in population levels of West African migratory bird species in the last ten years, nor has it made an assessment of the potential impact of the use of mist nets in Western African countries on these populations.
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Mr Toby Perkins:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Written Statement entitled Outcomes from Nature COP16, Cali, Colombia of 6 November 2024, HCWS196, what recent steps his Department has taken to (a) increase funding to the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund and (b) join the Legacy Landscapes Fund. \p Mary Creagh: At COP16, the UK pledged an additional financial contribution of £45 million to the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund to help countries across the globe to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. The UK also continues to encourage other countries and non-sovereign organisations to provide financial contributions.

In December 2024, Defra joined the Legacy Landscapes Fund as a donor and has so far invested just over £10 million, helping to protect biodiversity, promote climate resilience and foster equitable development in some of the world’s most outstanding landscapes.
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Dr Caroline Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an estimate of the number of hectares of (a) agricultural land, (b) Grade 1 agricultural land, (c) Grade 2 agricultural land, (d) Grade 3a agricultural land, (e) Grade 3b agricultural land, (f) Grade 4 agricultural land, (g) Grade 5 agricultural land, (h) brownfield land in (i) the UK, (ii) Great Britain, (iii) England and (iv)  England broken down by (A) region and (B) county. \p Mary Creagh: An estimate will be made when an updated Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) map is published later this year.

Land classification is a devolved matter, and each nation within the UK takes a different approach. In England and Wales, the ALC system is used to assess agricultural land quality.

The Government remains committed to maintaining accurate land classification data to support planning and policy decisions. The new strategic-scale ALC map will replace the 1960s provisional map in England, ensuring alignment with current ALC guidelines and including the subdivision of Grade 3 land into subgrades 3a and 3b.
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Samantha Niblett:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to (a) develop a circular economy for historically un-recyclable waste streams, (b) tackle the composite waste burden and (c) support the recycling industry. \p Mary Creagh: This Government is committed to moving to a circular economy – a future where we keep our resources in use for longer, waste is reduced, we accelerate the path to net zero, we see investment in critical infrastructure and green jobs, our economy prospers, and nature thrives. Defra recognises the importance of assessing the impacts of un-recyclable waste and as we develop our Circular Economy Strategy for England, we will consider the evidence for action and evaluate what interventions may be needed.

The incoming Collection and Packaging Reforms will ensure local authorities across England collect the same materials for recycling, creating a constant feed stock. These reforms will support 21,000 jobs and stimulate £10 billion in recycling capability over the next decade.
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Amanda Martin:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to set material-specific collection targets for local authorities under the Simpler Recycling reforms. \p Mary Creagh: This Government is committed to reducing waste by transitioning to a circular economy. To support the Government in achieving this goal, a Circular Economy Taskforce of experts has been established from across government, industry, academia, and civil society to help us develop a Circular Economy Strategy for England.

The taskforce will consider the evidence for sector-specific interventions from right across the economy and will be exploring a wide range of levers to drive circularity, including targets.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of a fourth round of grants under the fly-tipping grant scheme. \p Mary Creagh: This Government has not made an assessment of the potential merits of a fourth round of grants. The Government is making available £69 billion to council budgets across England – a 6.8% cash terms increase, to help fund key responsibilities like tackling fly-tipping.

We will continue to work with the National Fly-tipping Prevention Group to highlight and share best practice with regards to tackling fly-tipping. Various practical tools, including case studies from previous grants, are available from their website https://www.keepbritaintidy.org/national-fly-tipping-prevention-group#.
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Anna Gelderd:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of veterans working in (a) conservation and (b) land management; and whether he plans to support (a) training and (b) mentoring initiatives for those sectors. \p Mary Creagh: Defra encourages veterans to apply for vacancies across multiple sectors, which are advertised on Civil Service Jobs. Defra is a participant of the Great Place to Work for Veterans Scheme.

All employees, including veterans, have access to a broad learning and development offer and mentoring initiatives.

I also refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 28 April to Question 44868.
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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his policy is on imports of hunting trophies of species listed as (a) Near Threatened, (b) Vulnerable, (c) Endangered, (d) Critically Endangered and (e) Extinct in the Wild in the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) Red List of Threatened Species. \p Mary Creagh: The import of hunting trophies is regulated by the UK Wildlife Trade Regulations, which implements the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Where required, permits to import hunting trophies will only be issued when the strict criteria set out in the UK Wildlife Trade Regulations are met, including that the import does not have a detrimental impact on the conservation status of a species.

The Government committed to banning the import of hunting trophies in its manifesto and we will deliver on this. Defra is engaging with relevant stakeholders to ensure that we can deliver a ban on the import of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern in the most effective way.
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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his policy is on issuing import permits to hunting trophies of species listed in Appendix I of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora). \p Mary Creagh: The Animal and Plant Health Agency, an executive agency of Defra, is responsible for issuing import permits for hunting trophies. Appendix I species are the most strictly regulated species under CITES and import permits will only be issued if the criteria set out in the UK Wildlife Trade Regulations are met, including that the import does not have a detrimental impact on the conservation status of a species.

The Government committed to banning the import of hunting trophies in its manifesto and we will deliver on this. Defra is engaging with relevant stakeholders to ensure that we can deliver a ban on the import of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern in the most effective way.
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Shivani Raja:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help tackle the import of hunting trophies of (a) endangered, (b) vulnerable and (c) other species; and whether he plans to include a ban on such imports. \p Mary Creagh: The import of hunting trophies is regulated through the UK Wildlife Trade Regulations, which implements the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

The government committed to banning the import of hunting trophies in its manifesto and we will deliver on this. Defra is engaging with relevant stakeholders to ensure that we can deliver a ban on the import of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern in the most effective way.
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Graham Leadbitter:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has had discussions with his European counterparts on improving visa-free travel arrangements to Europe for British citizens. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The UK and the EU allow for visa-free short-term travel in line with their respective arrangements for third country nationals. The UK allows EU citizens short-term visa-free travel for up to six months. Meanwhile, the EU allows for travel within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period; this is standard for third countries travelling visa-free to the EU. UK nationals planning to stay longer will need permission from the relevant Member State. This may require a visa and/or permit.The UK Government will continue to listen to and advocate for UK nationals.
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Harriet Cross:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on what dates the (a) Cabinet and (b) Cabinet committees have discussed the UK's negotiating position on fishing rights as part of preparations for the EU-UK summit on 19 May 2025; and whether any objections were raised to proposals for a multi-year fishing agreement with the EU. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: As under previous governments, it is a long-established precedent that information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet and its committees are not shared publicly.
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Graeme Downie:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the 90-day visa-waiver stay limitation for EU countries will be subject to negotiation with the EU. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The UK and the EU allow for visa-free short-term travel in line with their respective arrangements for third country nationals. The UK allows EU citizens short-term visa-free travel for up to six months. Meanwhile, the EU allows for travel within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period; this is standard for third countries travelling visa-free to the EU. UK nationals planning to stay longer will need permission from the relevant Member State. This may require a visa and/or permit.The UK Government will continue to listen to and advocate for UK nationals.
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Nick Timothy:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has conducted an impact assessment for the introduction of a youth mobility scheme with the European Union. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: We have agreed that we will work towards the establishment of a balanced youth experience scheme with the EU. We have agreed that any scheme will be time-limited and capped, and we have also been clear that it should be in line with the UK’s existing schemes with countries like Australia and New Zealand. The exact parameters will be subject to negotiation
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 24 December 2024 to Question 19479 on Civil Servants: Disciplinary Proceedings, how many civil servants working in his Department have been suspended due to allegations of misconduct since in each year since 2020. \p Georgia Gould: Suspensions are used to safeguard the organisation and are not an assumption of guilt. Suspension can be used for a range of reasons; including during security investigations, fraud investigations or misconduct. The table below shows the number of suspensions since 2020:

Year

Number of suspensions

2020

4

2021

4

2022

2

2023

7

2024

7

2025

3
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 48962 on Civil Service: Redundancy Pay, for what reason he decided to close the consultation to reform the Civil Service Compensation Scheme; when the decision was made; and whether he plans to publish a formal response to the consultation. \p Georgia Gould: The consultation began in 2017. As the previous administration did not manage to make progress on this after 7 years of an open consultation, a decision was taken in March 2025 to close the consultation to reform the Civil Service Compensation Scheme on the basis that the process was no longer viable. We will continue to monitor the impact of the existing scheme terms and cost impacts.
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Clive Efford:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme, if he will review the supplementary route for people for whom the impact of their viruses and their treatments are not fully captured by the core route tariff. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The Infected Blood Inquiry Response Expert Group provided advice on the design of infection severity bands for the core route. They considered the health impacts and treatments that applicants are likely to have experienced. This includes many side effects of treatments, including interferon, and conditions such as chronic fatigue. The core route tariffs therefore already take into account conditions that infected people are likely to experience as a result of their infection or treatment.

The supplementary route, as set out in the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme Regulations 2025, provides additional awards for applicants whose circumstances necessitate a higher compensation payment. As a result, the eligibility criteria for the Severe Health Condition award reflects the conditions and impacts the Expert Group identified as not being addressed in other aspects of the scheme, including the core route or Exceptional Loss award.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether appointments to the Ethics and Integrity Commission will be included in the Public Bodies Order in Council; and whether the chair will be classified as a significant appointment. \p Georgia Gould: We are restoring confidence in government and the highest standards in public life.

This government is committed to establishing the right structures to do so and have already taken steps to improve probity and transparency, including through introducing a new Ministerial Code with emphasises the principles of public life, by strengthening the Terms of Reference for the Independent Adviser, and by introducing a new monthly Register of Gifts and Hospitality.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if the Prime Minister will meet victims of rape gangs at Number 10 Downing Street. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are published on gov.uk as part of the government’s transparency agenda. For actions this Government is taking to help victims, I refer the Hon. Member to the oral statement made by Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department [my Hon. Friend, the Member for Birmingham Yardley] on the 8 April 2025.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many full-time civil servants in the business unit of 10 Downing Street work a four day working week using compressed hours. \p Georgia Gould: I refer the honourable member to the answer given on 10 April 2025 in response to PQ 42051.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many times the Prime Minister has flown from London using (a) Royal Navy, (b) Army and (c) Royal Air Force helicopters since 5 July 2024. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 24 March 2025, Official Report, PQ 40537
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Government-branded merchandise and away days banned, published on 6 April 2025, whether this ban will extend to Senior Civil Service away days. \p Georgia Gould: The announcement sets out the requirements for all departments to review their policies on procuring corporate-branded and non-essential merchandise, with a view to restricting future purchases. These stricter rules will permit government merchandise only when essential, for example, in overseas trade and diplomacy, or to promote growth.

As also set out in the announcement, these measures will require departments to ensure that external venues for away days are only used when space in government buildings is unavailable.

This guidance applies at all staff levels. Staff will continue to be able to wear existing lanyards.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 25 November 2024 to Question 15186 on 10 Downing Street: Official Hospitality, whether he plans to provide costs for individual receptions in 10 Downing Street in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: There are no plans to update inherited guidance in order to provide a breakdown of costs for individual receptions in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts. The cost of hospitality in 10 Downing Street is published in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts. The approach is in line and follows that of the previous administrations, which did not publish the information in this way.
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Munira Wilson:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government Property Agency has a process allowing for the disposal of surplus government assets below market rate when a disposal is in the community interest. \p Georgia Gould: Government organisations including the Government Property Agency must follow the provisions for the disposal of surplus government property established in guidance issued by HM Treasury, specifically that disposal decisions should take account of wider social costs and benefits and should form part of any appraisal, and when appropriate it may be justifiable to choose an option that does not generate the highest Exchequer receipt, for example to support a wider government policy objective such as regeneration.

HMT guidance sets out the method for calculating wider social, economic and environmental benefits in policy and project appraisal, and how to treat disposals at less than market value.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 17 April 2025 to Question 44026 on 9 Downing Street: Repairs and Maintenance, what the purpose associated with the referenced entry of £122,086.70 on OCS was. \p Georgia Gould: The referenced entry of £122,086.70 for OCS on the February disclosure notice relates to OCS' regular monthly Fixed Facilities Management services provided to Government Property Agency properties in the North. For clarity, this does not include the No. 9 media suite.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Lauren Edwards:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to share data between Departments on matters that affect trends in the level of the cost of living. \p Georgia Gould: The Government has set out a Plan for Change, outlining our ambitious yet achievable milestones, including raising living standards in every part of the United Kingdom to ensure working people have more money in their pockets.

The Government is working to ensure that public sector data is fit for purpose, trusted, ethically managed, and reused for the public good with robust safeguards for privacy, regardless of the individual departmental source.

Cabinet Office ministers are actively working with ministerial colleagues in other departments to encourage data sharing to support the delivery of the Government’s Plan for Change.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 17 April 2025 to Question 43964 on Cabinet office: stress, how many (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers were signed off absent due to stress in the business unit of 10 Downing Street in the most recent week for which data is available. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: Information about sickness absence in the Cabinet Office is published regularly on gov.uk. The latest data publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-sickness-absence-2024/civil-service-sickness-absence-2024-report#by-organisation
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of recommendation 57 of the Sullivan Review of Data, Statistics and Research on Sex and Gender, published on 19 March 2025. \p Georgia Gould: The Civil Service Code, which is published and available here, sets out the standards of behaviour expected of all civil servants.

Work is currently in development to issue model guidance on the management and governance of Staff Networks and apply this to all voluntary employee networks to ensure the Civil Service position is clear for all civil servants.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of regulated public appointments have had substantive information published on who the members of the appointments advisory panel are since 4 July 2024. \p Georgia Gould: The Governance Code on Public Appointments sets out guidance on the role and composition of Advisory Assessment Panels. The Code requires, for all regulated public appointment competitions, that there should be full transparency of the Advisory Assessment Panel. Departments generally publish such details via the public appointments digital service on gov.uk as part of the details of the adverts for individual roles.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government learning framework includes training on equality, diversity and inclusion. \p Georgia Gould: Like any employer, we offer a range of learning and development opportunities to give staff the skills they need to succeed in their roles, but courses must be assessed for value for money, and clear justifications must be provided for procuring learning and development activity. The Government Learning Frameworks catalogue of training courses and L&D services is available online at the Prospectus Online.

This includes the Civil Service Expectations course, which is recommended to all Civil Servants as an introduction to the Civil Service code and values, the Equality Act 2010, and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy. There are other courses that contain elements of equality, diversity or inclusion, but to identify all courses that make reference to these topics would come at a disproportionate cost.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Clive Efford:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to his evidence to the Infected Blood Inquiry on 7 May 2025, whether he intends to review (a) the compensation regulations and (b) the tariffs. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: As I said in my oral evidence to the Inquiry, I am open to considering a number of areas of the Scheme where doing so does not cause undue delay to the delivery of compensation. The Inquiry will be producing a further report and the Government will respond to this report when it is published
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to reduce fraud in the public sector. \p Georgia Gould: Tackling public sector fraud is a priority for this government.

That’s why the government introduced the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill in January as part of the biggest fraud crackdown in a generation. The measures in the Bill will give us more tools to combat fraud, recover public money and allow the government to investigate fraud.

The Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA) is also developing artificial intelligence tools to tackle fraud - and is expected to surpass the PSFA’s £250m 2024-25 audited benefits target from these services.

Furthermore, at the request of the Secretary of State for Education to address fraud in student loans, the PSFA is working to coordinate the government's response to fraud within student loans by providing direct expertise understand the scale of the threat posed by fraudsters, identify the most effective immediate disruption activities and how to prevent this kind of fraud in the future.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the utility bills for the Ministerial residences in Admiralty House are individually metered. \p Georgia Gould: The Admiralty House residences are currently individually metered for gas utilities only. However, the gas supply to the residences has been stopped following the removal of all gas appliances.

Although not metered individually, water and electricity usage continues to be managed centrally and costs approved as necessary for the residences.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the press release entitled UK Resilience Academy to help secure Britain’s future with generational upgrade in emergency training, published on 28 April 2025, on what statutory basis the academy will operate; and what form of arm’s length body it will be. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: The UK Resilience Academy (UKRA) is part of the Cabinet Office National Security Secretariat. It is not an Arms Length Body.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to take steps to improve the Display Energy Certificate rating for 10 Downing Street. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: Across the Cabinet Office Estate, which includes 10 Downing Street, steps are always being taken to maximise energy efficiency.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate his Department has made of the current service cost of civil service pensions in the (a) 2023-24, (b) 2024-25 and (c) 2025-26 financial year. \p Georgia Gould: The current service cost for 2023-24 was £6,274,256,000 and is included in the published annual report and accounts found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-superannuation-annual-account-2023-to-2024

The current service cost for 2024-25 is not yet finalised and will be disclosed in the annual report and account due to be published by December 2025.

The current service cost for 2025-26 will not be available until the end of the financial year and will follow the same publication process as 2024-25.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 11 December 2024 to Question 18399, on Media: Meetings, if he will take steps to amend Annex C of the guidance entitled Senior Officials’ business expenses, hospitality received and meetings with external organisations and individuals, published on 2 April 2024, to provide guidance on how social media organisations should be categorised. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: The Government keeps the guidance on senior officials' business expenses, hospitality received and meetings with external organisations and individuals under review. However, there are no current plans to amend the guidance to include details on how social media organisations should be categorised.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Munira Wilson:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the publication entitled Government Property Strategy 2022-2030, published on 29 August 2022, remains his policy. \p Georgia Gould: The Cabinet Office is currently working to update the Government Property Strategy. The existing strategy will remain in place until a new strategy is published.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether (a) electricity, (b) gas and (c) water in the (i) 10 and (ii) 11 Downing Street residences are individually metered. \p Georgia Gould: The No. 10 Downing Street and No. 11 Downing Street residences are not individually metered for any listed utility.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will list the days of (a) cultural and (b) religious significance publicly marked by the Prime Minister (i) since 4 July 2024 and (ii) for the next 12 months. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: Days of cultural and religious significance are frequently marked by the Prime Minister. Please see the @10DowningStreet X account for regular updates.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which business units in 10 Downing Street use the AI Redbox tool; and whether submissions to the Prime Minister are written using AI tools. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer of 23 January 2025, Official Report, PQ 24138
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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John Cooper:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of publishing (a) direct and (b) indirect spend on SME by (i) department and (ii) contract type on the Central Digital Platform. \p Georgia Gould: In February, the Government announced new rules requiring all government departments and their executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies to set three-year targets for direct spend with SMEs from 1 April 2025, and from 1 April 2026 for Voluntary Community and Social Enterprises (VCSEs), and publish progress annually.

Our intention is for all targets for spend with SMEs and the annual publication of spend with SMEs to be published on the Central Digital Platform for ease of comparison. This will drive greater transparency and accountability for increasing numbers of SMEs and VCSEs delivering public contracts.