Written questions by Burghart.

What the evidential basis is for the Office for Value for Money making almost £14 billion of annual efficiency gains by 2028-29 against planned day-to-day budgets for 2025-26.

The OVfM has supported departments to develop bespoke technical efficiency targets, underpinned by credible delivery plans. In total, the government identified efficiencies of almost £14 billion a year by 2028-29. The OVfM’s approach was guided by three principles, which together will deliver a sustainable outcome. First, it has placed greater focus on improving outcomes not just reducing costs. It has achieved this by clearly distinguishing between technical efficiencies (delivering more output for the same input, or the same output for less input) and stopping activities (reducing outputs). This is in line with the Government Efficiency Framework definition of a technical efficiency. Second, it has aimed to increase confidence in the deliverability of efficiencies, by working with departments to develop bespoke targets underpinned by credible plans. Third, it has supported greater transparency by publishing departments’ targets and plans, allowing external scrutiny and public accountability. Further detail on the basis for departments’ targets and plans can be found in the Departmental Efficiency Delivery Plans document published at Spending Review 2025: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/departmental-efficiency-delivery-plans.

With reference to the Government press release entitled Internship Scheme To Get More Working Class Students Into Civil Service, published on 1 August 2025, whether children of Hon. Members will be able to apply for the Summer Internship Programme in 2026.

As we set out in August, we will be opening our Fast Stream Summer Internship Programme exclusively for undergraduates from lower socio-economic backgrounds for 2026. We will determine eligibility based on parental occupation at age 14 in line with guidance from the Social Mobility Commission and the Office for National Statistics definition.

What his planned timetable is for updating the webpage entitled Salaries of members of His Majesty's Government on gov.uk.

Salary entitlements for ministers are set out by the Ministerial and other Salaries Act 1975.The Prime Minister has maintained the pay freeze for ministers who continue to claim a lower salary to their entitlement under law, as per the salary amounts listed on GOV.uk. GOV.UK will be updated in due course.

Pursuant to the answer of 11 July 2025, to Question 64830, on Civil Service: Equality, whether his Department has consulted trade unions in relation to planned updates to the Guidance for Civil Service Staff Networks.

National trade unions have had the opportunity to provide feedback during the development of the Staff Network Policy.

If he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014.

I refer the Hon Member back to PQ54767 and PQ69066.

Pursuant to the Answer of 29 August 2025 to Question 62335 on Senior Civil Service: Training, if he will list the external venues that have been authorised for hire since 4 April 2025; and the cost for each hire.

The Cabinet Office’s contract with Calder Conferences Limited to provide Venue Booking Services started in February 2023, under the previous administration. The below table lists the venues and costs of venues booked by the Cabinet Office through Calder Conferences since 4 July 2024. Of the 223 bookings listed, 198 were commissioned under previous guidance regarding the booking of external venues, and 25 were commissioned following updated guidance issued by this government on 4 April 2025. To provide further background information on each booking would incur disproportionate costs, but these have included events such as Civil Service Live 2025 and hearings for the Infected Blood Inquiry. These two events account for just over £587,000 of the costs of external venue hires via Calder since 4 April 2025. This government’s updated guidance on restrictions to booking external venues, issued on 4 April 2025, makes clear that external venues for away days are only to be used when space in government buildings or zero cost venues is unavailable. When it is absolutely necessary to procure an external venue, departments must do so through established procurement routes. Any expenditure related to away days must demonstrate value for money and adhere to reasonable cost expectations. Bookings commissioned between 04 July 2024 and 4 April 2025Start DateEnd DateVenue NameVenue AddressValue (excl. VAT)10/07/202411/07/2024Sandy Park Conference and Banqueting Centre ExeterExeter EX2£7,332.6316/7/202416/7/2024The Great Victoria HotelBradford BD1£291.6717/7/202417/7/2024University of Westminster - MaryleboneLondon NW1£192.0022/7/202422/7/2024Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central - Formerly Jurys Inn ManchesterManchester M1 5£284.2530/07/202430/07/2024The Wesley Hotel & Conference VenueLondon NW1£825.0028/08/202428/08/2024Radisson Blu Hotel BirminghamBirmingham B1 1£345.8329/08/202429/08/2024Townhouse Hotel ManchesterManchester M1 6£938.3409/09/202410/09/2024Park Plaza LeedsLeeds LS1£2,250.0010/09/202410/09/2024Park Plaza County Hall LondonLondon SE1£1,675.0011/09/202411/09/2024The Westminster London, Curio Collection by HiltonLondon SW1P£2,206.0013/09/202413/09/2024Chamber SpaceManchester M3 3£615.0017/09/202417/09/2024Mary Ward HouseLondon WC1H£2,445.0017/09/202417/09/2024Radisson Blu Hotel GlasgowGlasgow G2 8£250.0018/09/202418/09/2024Clayton Hotel Glasgow City CentreGlasgow G1 4£3,750.0018/09/202418/09/2024One Great George StreetLondon SW1P£3,453.5518/09/202418/09/2024Royal Station HotelNewcastle-upon-Tyne NE1£2,670.6718/09/202418/09/2024The Principal YorkYork YO24£747.9119/09/202419/09/2024Clayton Hotel BelfastBelfast BT2£166.6721/09/202421/09/2024Hotel AfaPristina 1000 Kosovo£627.7024/09/202424/09/2024Hotel AfaPristina 1000 Kosovo£631.9724/09/202424/09/2024Macdonald Burlington HotelBirmingham B2 4£2,437.5024/09/202424/09/2024The Chesterfield Mayfair Hotel, Red Carnation HotelsLondon W1J£630.0024/09/202424/09/2024Wellington Hotel by Blue Orchid HospitalityLondon SW1P£396.7525/09/202425/09/2024Crowne Plaza Birmingham City CentreBirmingham B1 1£487.5026/09/202426/09/2024The Kia OvalLondon SE11£23,147.5029/09/202402/10/2024Modern City HotelTamale C5Q3£5,513.0230/09/202430/09/2024Broadway HouseLondon SW1H£2,250.0001/10/202401/10/2024The Mermaid LondonLondon EC4V£56,899.0002/10/202404/10/2024Leonardo Royal Hotel BirminghamBirmingham B1 2£1,233.5506/10/202406/10/2024The Royal SenchiAkosombo 0 Ghana£14,679.3810/10/202410/10/2024The Royal Horseguards and One Whitehall PlaceLondon SW1A£16,365.0015/10/202416/10/2024Hilton Podgorica Crna GoraPodgorica 8100 Montenegro£616.3217/10/202417/10/2024Manchester Marriott Hotel PiccadillyManchester M1 2£11,673.1717/10/202418/10/2024Wilton Park Conference CentreSteyning BN44£13,815.3522/10/202422/10/2024Hilton Podgorica Crna GoraPodgorica 8100 Montenegro£670.4623/10/202423/10/2024Park Plaza County Hall LondonLondon SE1£2,158.0029/10/202431/10/2024Bianca Resort & SpaKolasin 8121 Montenegro£4,500.2530/10/202430/10/2024Novotel Bristol CentreBristol BS1£770.8306/11/202406/11/2024&Meetings - BirminghamBirmingham B2 5£90.0006/11/202408/11/2024Hilton Leeds CityLeeds LS1£2,232.9606/11/202406/11/2024The Wesley Hotel & Conference VenueLondon NW1£3,400.0012/11/202413/11/2024Voco LeicesterLeicester LE2£2,100.0013/11/202414/11/2024Central Hall WestminsterLondon SW1H£1,176.0014/11/202414/11/2024QEII CentreLondon SW1P£26,253.0314/11/202414/11/2024The Birmingham and Midland InstituteBirmingham B3 3£2,210.0015/11/202415/11/2024Fermanagh HouseEnniskillen BT74£209.0015/11/202415/11/2024Imperial War MuseumLondon SE1£1,380.0019/11/202419/11/2024Radisson Blu Hotel GlasgowGlasgow G2 8£1,099.9920/11/202421/11/2024etc.venues ManchesterManchester M1 3£2,480.0026/11/202426/11/2024Hilton YorkYork YO1£350.7628/11/202428/11/2024Manchester CentralManchester M2 3£26,670.0503/12/202403/12/2024etc.venues County HallLondon SE1£1,270.0003/12/202408/12/2024Hilton Podgorica Crna GoraPodgorica 8100 Montenegro£4,413.4604/12/202404/12/2024Asia HouseLondon W1G£3,403.7504/12/202404/12/2024etc.venues ManchesterManchester M1 3£900.0004/12/202406/12/2024Mercure Liverpool Atlantic Tower HotelLiverpool L3 9£2,700.0004/12/202404/12/2024The Studio BirminghamBirmingham B2 5£1,760.5004/12/202406/12/2024The Birmingham Conference & Events Centre at the Holiday Inn Birmingham City CentreBirmingham B5 4£3,088.3305/12/202405/12/2024Mercure Cardiff Holland House Hotel & SpaCardiff CF24£250.005/12/20245/12/2024The Royal SocietyLondon SW1Y£2,745.0005/12/202406/12/2024Avari Hotel LahorePunjab Pakistan£717.7209/12/202410/12/2024Dunsilly HotelAntrim BT41£2,225.8409/12/202409/12/2024Pendulum Hotel & Manchester Conference CentreManchester M1 3£2,383.3310/12/202411/12/2024Glasgow Training RoomsGlasgow G3 8£1,030.0010/12/202412/12/2024Copthorne Tara Hotel London KensingtonLondon W8 5£1,204.1710/12/202412/12/2024Grange Clarendon HotelLondon WC1B£4,550.0011/12/202411/12/2024IET Birmingham: Austin CourtBirmingham B1 2£3,080.0011/12/202411/12/2024Leonardo Royal Hotel London Tower BridgeLondon E1 8£1,725.0011/12/202411/12/2024Prince Philip HouseLondon SW1Y£921.6011/12/202411/12/2024Royal Hospital ChelseaLondon SW3£197.0011/12/202411/12/2024The Royal Horseguards and One Whitehall PlaceLondon SW1A£7,795.0011/12/202411/12/2024Townhouse Hotel ManchesterManchester M1 6£272.0812/12/202413/12/2024Leonardo Royal Hotel BirminghamBirmingham B1 2£4,715.0112/12/202412/12/2024The Studio BirminghamBirmingham B2 5£1,054.8013/12/202413/12/2024Leonardo Royal Hotel London Tower BridgeLondon E1 8£1,346.1418/12/202418/12/2024Mercure Bristol Grand HotelBristol BS1£3,332.4814/01/202516/01/2025CCT Venues-SmithfieldSmithfield EC1A£10,327.5014/01/202514/01/2025etc.venues ManchesterManchester M1 3£1,410.0014/01/202514/01/2025IET Birmingham: Austin CourtBirmingham B1 2£740.0014/01/202514/01/2025Marlin WaterlooLondon SE1£445.0015/01/202515/01/2025Church House WestminsterLondon SW1P£8,461.5015/01/202515/01/2025Churchill War RoomsLondon SW1A£6,651.1520/01/202522/01/2025Hilton Podgorica Crna GoraPodgorica 8100 Montenegro£768.9020/01/202521/01/2025Royal Station HotelNewcastle-upon-Tyne NE1£1,702.0720/01/202521/01/2025The HawkhillsEasingwold YO61£7,134.1721/01/202521/01/2025etc.venues ManchesterManchester M1 3£2,750.0021/01/202521/01/2025Park Inn by Radisson AberdeenAberdeen AB11£270.8322/01/202522/01/2025The Met Hotel, LeedsLeeds LS1£4,691.6623/01/202523/01/2025Church House WestminsterLondon SW1P£15,370.0023/01/202523/01/2025Manchester Art GalleryManchester M2 3£2,496.4027/01/202530/01/2025Radisson Blu Hotel, Edinburgh City CentreEdinburgh EH1£12,012.5127/01/202529/01/2025Stanbrook Abbey HotelWorcester WR2£3,113.7228/01/202528/01/2025Design MuseumLondon W8 6£10,000.0028/01/202528/01/2025DoubleTree by Hilton London Angel Kings CrossLondon N1 9£2,245.8329/1/202529/1/2025Design MuseumLondon W8 6£42,000.0030/01/202530/01/2025Broadway HouseLondon SW1H£679.6030/01/202530/01/2025Crowne Plaza Birmingham City CentreBirmingham B1 1£577.2030/01/202530/01/2025The Union Jack ClubLondon SE1£462.7104/02/202504/02/2025Broadway HouseLondon SW1H£1,089.0005/02/202505/02/2025Central Hall WestminsterLondon SW1H£7,467.5805/02/202505/02/2025The Royal SocietyLondon SW1Y£30,413.2506/02/202506/02/2025Marlin WaterlooLondon SE1£445.0006/02/202506/02/2025Townhouse Hotel ManchesterManchester M1 6£428.3310/02/202510/02/2025Broadway HouseLondon SW1H£823.5010/02/202510/02/2025Broadway HouseLondon SW1H£1,213.0011/02/202513/02/2025Novotel Manchester CentreManchester M1 4£416.6611/02/202511/02/2025Townhouse Hotel ManchesterManchester M1 6£385.4212/02/202514/02/2025Crowne Plaza BandungJakarta 4011 Indonesia£14,580.9012/02/202512/02/2025Hilton Podgorica Crna GoraPodgorica 8100 Montenegro£1,891.5012/02/202512/02/2025Royal National HotelLondon WC1H£6,916.6712/02/202512/02/2025The Wesley Hotel & Conference VenueLondon NW1£3,141.6713/02/202513/02/2025The Kia OvalLondon SE11£24,713.7614/02/202514/02/2025One Birdcage WalkLondon SW1H£2,184.6018/02/202518/02/2025Holiday Inn London BloomsburyLondon WC1N£9,087.5018/02/202518/02/2025Hotel Splendid Conference and Spa ResortBecici 8531 Montenegro£1,078.3218/02/202519/02/2025Mercure Manchester Piccadilly HotelManchester M1 4£416.6719/02/202519/02/2025Broadway HouseLondon SW1H£2,400.5019/02/202521/02/2025Park Plaza LeedsLeeds LS1£12,974.1620/02/202521/02/2025Hilton Podgorica Crna GoraPodgorica 8100 Montenegro£2,662.5124/02/202524/02/2025Clayton Hotel Birmingham & Conference CentreBirmingham B5 5£650.0024/02/202526/02/2025Mandarin Oriental, JakartaJakarta 1031 Indonesia£7,264.8725/02/202525/02/2025Thistle London Marble ArchLondon W1H£17,474.9926/02/202526/02/2025Ambassadors Bloomsbury HotelLondon WC1H£3,932.5027/02/202528/02/2025The Royal Horseguards and One Whitehall PlaceLondon SW1A£8,481.6704/03/202504/03/2025Broadway HouseLondon SW1H£2,400.5004/03/202504/03/2025Broadway HouseLondon SW1H£2,196.0004/03/202504/03/2025Hilton YorkYork YO1£733.3304/03/202504/03/2025Lysses House HotelFareham PO16£250.0004/03/202506/03/2025Manchester Marriott Hotel PiccadillyManchester M1 2£13,509.7505/03/202505/03/2025Mary Ward HouseLondon WC1H£8,163.8005/03/202505/03/2025National Museums LiverpoolLiverpool L2 2£30,384.6011/03/202511/03/2025Bletchley ParkMilton Keynes MK3£22,084.0011/03/202511/03/2025Churchill War RoomsLondon SW1A£2,190.0012/03/202512/03/2025etc.venues County HallLondon SE1£550.0012/03/202513/03/2025The Milner York, formerly The PrincipalYork YO24£8,615.0117/03/202517/03/2025Admirable CrichtonLondon SE5£2,139.4618/03/202520/03/2025CCT Venues-SmithfieldSmithfield EC1A£10,042.0018/03/202521/03/2025Novotel Leeds CentreLeeds LS1£4,646.6620/03/202520/03/20258 Northumberland AvenueLondon WC2N£21,700.0020/03/202520/03/2025Leonardo Royal Hotel BirminghamBirmingham B1 2£5,100.0020/03/202520/03/2025Marlin WaterlooLondon SE1£495.0020/03/202520/03/2025Radisson Blu Hotel LiverpoolLiverpool L3 9£725.0024/03/202526/03/2025Nottingham Venues - The Jubilee Hotel & ConferencesNottingham NG7£23,581.9724/03/202524/03/2025The Royal SocietyLondon SW1Y£6,653.0025/03/202526/03/2025Broadway HouseLondon SW1H£2,500.0025/03/202525/03/2025etc.venues ManchesterManchester M1 3£2,785.0025/03/202525/03/2025Novotel London WaterlooLondon SE1£678.3326/03/202526/03/2025Amplitude Event Solutions LtdShipley BD18£7,085.0026/03/202526/03/2025Broadway HouseLondon SW1H£2,110.0026/03/202526/03/2025Civil Service ClubLondon SW1A£1,400.3426/03/202526/03/2025Clayton Hotel Manchester City CentreManchester M1 3£3,404.1626/03/202528/03/2025Hyatt Place & Hyatt House LeedsLeeds LS1£3,741.6627/03/202527/03/2025Delta Hotels by Marriott Liverpool City Centre.Liverpool L1 1£583.3327/03/202527/03/2025Malmaison YorkYork YO90£4,570.8431/03/202504/04/2025Clayton Hotel Glasgow City CentreGlasgow G1 4£2,666.6631/03/202531/03/2025Marlin WaterlooLondon SE1£755.0001/04/202501/04/2025Body and Soul CharityLondon EC1R£350.0002/04/202502/04/2025Central Hall WestminsterLondon SW1H£12,858.5002/04/202503/04/2025The Midland Hotel - ManchesterManchester M60£1,500.0003/04/202503/04/202510-11 Carlton House TerraceLondon SW1Y£1,450.8303/04/202503/04/2025Broadway HouseLondon SW1H£1,620.0003/04/202503/04/2025MGi London Media & EventsLondon W1B£2,050.0003/04/202505/04/2025Wilton Park Conference CentreSteyning BN44£16,434.7022/04/202523/04/2025Crowne Plaza Newcastle - Stephenson QuarterNewcastle-upon-Tyne NE1£1,447.4923/04/202524/04/2025Conference Aston Hotel BirminghamBirmingham B4 7£10,651.4129/04/202530/04/2025Clayton Hotel Manchester City CentreManchester M1 3£3,946.7029/04/202529/04/2025Radisson Hotel YorkYork YO1£4,179.1730/04/202530/04/2025Cardiff CastleCardiff CF10£4,550.0030/04/202530/04/2025Park Plaza County Hall LondonLondon SE1£2,194.0030/04/202530/04/2025The Birmingham Conference & Events Centre at the Holiday Inn Birmingham City CentreBirmingham B5 4£4,345.0001/05/202501/05/2025QEII CentreLondon SW1P£29,296.4501/05/202501/05/2025The AlanManchester M1 4£665.0007/05/202507/05/2025etc.venues ManchesterManchester M1 3£2,785.0009/05/202509/05/2025De Vere Grand Connaught RoomsLondon WC2B£7,206.2012/05/202516/05/2025Clayton Hotel LeedsLeeds LS11£5,791.6713/05/202515/05/2025CCT Venues-SmithfieldSmithfield EC1A£10,042.0013/05/202514/05/2025Radisson Blu Hotel, SheffieldSheffield S1 2£6,811.6713/05/202513/05/2025RSA HouseLondon WC2N£6,690.0014/05/202514/05/2025Novotel Manchester CentreManchester M1 4£1,866.6719/05/202522/05/2025The Met Hotel, LeedsLeeds LS1£8,725.0020/05/202520/05/2025etc.venues MonumentLondon EC3M£10,445.0021/05/202521/05/2025De Vere Grand Connaught RoomsLondon WC2B£6,678.3309/06/202514/06/2025Radisson Blu Hotel, Edinburgh City CentreEdinburgh EH1£12,387.5017/06/202519/06/2025Venue Cranfield - Hotel and Conference CentreMilton Keynes MK43£4,097.5023/06/202523/06/2025One Great George StreetLondon SW1P£2,702.0024/06/202525/06/2025Utilita Arena CardiffCardiff CF10£8,000.0025/06/202527/06/2025Conference Aston Hotel BirminghamBirmingham B4 7£11,428.3130/06/202503/07/2025The Westminster London, Curio Collection by HiltonLondon SW1P£6,225.0001/07/202503/07/2025CCT Venues-SmithfieldSmithfield EC1A£10,292.5001/07/202502/07/2025Northumbria UniversityNewcastle-upon-Tyne NE2£19,590.0003/07/202503/07/2025Townhouse Hotel ManchesterManchester M1 6£1,225.0004/07/202504/07/2025Royal National HotelLondon WC1H£18,280.8107/07/202509/07/2025Excel LondonLondon E16£123,843.7214/07/202515/07/2025ACC LiverpoolLiverpool L3 4£86,770.0015/07/202517/07/2025The HawkhillsEasingwold YO61£3,420.0016/07/202517/07/2025Sandy Park Conference and Banqueting Centre ExeterExeter EX2£22,846.6709/09/202509/09/2025RSA HouseLondon WC2N£15,323.2517/09/202517/09/2025Marlin WaterlooLondon SE1£653.33TOTAL£1,364,221.74Bookings commissioned after 4 April 202506/05/202509/05/2025Church House WestminsterLondon SW1P£163,505.0008/05/202508/05/2025Glasgow Argyle Hotel, Signature Collection by Best WesternGlasgow G3 8£395.8312/05/202512/05/2025Broadway HouseLondon SW1H£1,215.0014/05/202514/05/2025110 Rochester RowLondon SW1P£4,524.5016/05/202516/05/2025Holiday Inn Cardiff City CentreCardiff CF10£867.5121/05/202522/05/2025Dynamic EarthEdinburgh EH8£18,336.4021/05/202522/05/2025Manchester CentralManchester M2 3£81,010.4329/05/202529/05/2025The Old Ship HotelBrighton BN1£494.6704/06/202504/06/2025RSA HouseLondon WC2N£8,654.0009/06/202510/06/2025Scottish Event Campus (SEC)Glasgow G3 8£53,743.0011/06/202512/06/2025ICC Belfast - Waterfront HallBelfast BT1£31,499.1111/06/202511/06/2025Mercure Glasgow City HotelGlasgow G1 1£923.3316/06/202517/06/2025Crowne Plaza Newcastle-Stephenson QuarterNewcastle-upon-Tyne NE1£1,346.1724/06/202524/06/2025Leonardo Hotel Manchester CentralManchester M1 5£127.5001/07/202503/07/2025Venue Cranfield - Hotel and Conference CentreMilton Keynes MK43£2,134.1307/07/202510/07/2025Courtyard by Marriott Oxford City CentreOxford OX1£28,220.0009/07/202510/07/2025Linton Lodge Hotel, BW Signature CollectionOxford OX2£687.5009/07/202509/07/2025Westminster ChapelLondon SW1E£23,565.6616/07/202516/07/2025Leonardo Royal Hotel BirminghamBirmingham B1 2£812.5016/07/202516/07/2025Leonardo Royal Hotel London Tower BridgeLondon E1 8£29,226.6722/07/202522/07/2025Mercure Manchester Piccadilly HotelManchester M1 4£208.3328/07/202528/07/2025Radisson Blu Hotel CardiffCardiff CF10£250.0015/09/202516/09/2025Manchester HallManchester M3 3£10,475.0007/10/202508/10/2025Wilton Park Conference CentreSteyning BN44£59,260.0013/11/202513/11/2025St Mary's MaryleboneLondon W1H£7,000.00TOTAL£791,679.26

Whether the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister has any line management responsibilities for (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers in 10 Downing Street; and whether the (i) responsibilities and (ii) remit of the Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister have changed since the appointment of the Chief Secretary.

It would not be appropriate to comment on staffing matters or individuals’ remits and responsibilities.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2024 to Question 54793 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty, what proportion of the costs will come from the (a) Ministry of Defence and (b) Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office budgets.

The payments to Mauritius will be split between the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and Ministry of Defence. They will be published in the normal manner alongside other departmental spend in the annual accounts.

Whether her Department has a target for the number of staff it plans to employ over the period of the Spending Review.

The Department’s SR settlement of a 10% real terms reduction to admin budgets by 2028-29 means HM Treasury will need to get smaller, necessitating a reduction in resource in some areas. Headcount reductions will be subject to future business planning where the department will take decisions on how the savings will be delivered.

What the planned (a) commencement and (b) implementation dates are for each substantive policy provision of the Employment Rights Bill.

On 1 July the Government published the Employment Rights Bill Implementation Roadmap. The Roadmap provides clarity for employers and workers on how and when Government will engage and consult on the detailed implementation of Bill measures once it becomes law, and when measures will take effect. The Roadmap outlines several phases of commencement including following Royal Assent, in April 2026, in October 2026, and in 2027. As part of our Plan for Change we are working at pace to deliver on our commitment to Make Work Pay, engaging and consulting throughout to make sure we get the detail right.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Business Secretary announces new DBT non-executive directors, published on 17 December 2024, if he will publish the correspondence to and from the Commissioner for Public Appointments to obtain permission to appoint Nita Clarke without open competition.

I fully respect the principles of public appointments and the Governance Code for Public Appointments was fully adhered to in this process: the rationale for appointing without competition was made public at the time of announcement, following consultation with the Commissioner, and there is no requirement under the Code to publish this correspondence. A fair and open competition was undertaken with a strong field of applications. However, it needed to be strengthened further by the appointment of Nita Clarke, who is bringing vital skills in employee engagement, partnership and employee voices in the workplace drawn from a long and distinguished career including as Vice President for Employee Relations at the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2024 to Question 54793 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty, what is the cash terms, monetary value of the Defence payment towards the Chagos deal in each individual year of the Spending Review 2025.

I refer the hon. member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (James Cartlidge), in response to Question 59129, on 23 June 2025.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2024 to Question 54793 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty, whether his Department's spending on the deal will count towards meeting the (a) 2.5 percent and (b) 3 percent defence spending targets.

The NATO qualifying status of these costs will be considered in the usual way.

With reference to Minister for the Cabinet Office's Oral Statement of 24 June 2025 on the National Security Strategy, Official Report, columns 974-76, what estimate he has made of the proportion of GDP spent on broader resilience and security spending in the most recent period for which data is available.

The National Security Strategy 2025 was published on 24 June 2025. It confirms that by combining an increase in funding with recognition of the vital contribution the Single Intelligence Account plays to our national defence, the UK will spend 2.6% on NATO qualifying defence spending from 2027. This will be considered core spending.NATO provides reporting guidelines for the 1.5% defence and security related spending. It will include investments that raise the overall resilience of our societies, such as energy security, telecommunications, and infrastructure, as well as the execution of defence plans, expanding industrial capacity and innovation and counter hybrid actions.Along with all other NATO allies, the UK will report against the new categories of defence spending at the next NATO reporting deadline.

Whether she plans to (a) amend and (b) review the definitions of (i) defence and (ii) national security spending, for the purposes of (A) statistical and (B) NATO targets.

NATO has a common definition of defence expenditure which is agreed by all NATO Allies. A full definition can be found here: https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_49198.htm

If he will place in the Library a copy of the standard template for submissions to (a) Cabinet Office Ministers and (b) the Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer on 17 February 2025 (PQ HL4631) and on 7 April 2025 (PQ 42819).

What metrics are tracked on his Department's internal dashboards; and if he will make it his policy to publish them on gov.uk.

The Cabinet Office does not centrally record the total number of metrics captured. Our teams and business units maintain a wide array of dashboards tailored to their specific functions and business requirements. A precise, aggregated figure is not available. The dashboards contain internal management information, and it is not Cabinet Office policy to publish them.

Whether the appointment of the (a) chair and (b) members of the Ethics and Integrity Committee will be (i) a regulated public appointment and (ii) subject to Select Committee pre-appointment scrutiny.

We are restoring confidence in government and the highest standards in public life and have already taken steps to improve probity and transparency, including through issuing a new Ministerial Code which highlights the importance of 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. An update on the Ethics and Integrity Commission will be provided in due course.

Whether Departments will be required to produce internal Outcome Delivery Plans (a) to monitor spending outlines in the Spending Review 2025 and (b) as part of the Mission Board delivery programme.

The Government has published its Plan for Change, which sets out clear and ambitious milestones to reach over this Parliament from each of the Government’s national missions. Detail on wider government commitments will continue to be provided by relevant departments.

How much funding he has allocated to the Finucane Inquiry.

As I outlined in my oral statement of 11 September 2024, I considered the likely costs and impact of the Patrick Finucane Inquiry on public finances. It is the Government’s expectation that the Inquiry will avoid unnecessary costs given all the previous reviews and investigations and the large amount of information and material that is already in the public domain. Public inquiries regularly publish financial reports on their expenditure in the course of their work.