Written questions by Burghart.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to page 261 of the FCDO Annual Report and Accounts 2024–2025, HC 1198, whether her Department considered declaring grants to Inter Mediate in 2024-25 as a related party transaction.

No change has been made to the approach to such grants since they were first made under the previous government of which the Hon Member was part.

When the Kickstarting Economic Growth Mission Board has met since November 2025.

The Growth Mission Board was replaced by the Growth and Living Standards Committee in November 2025. It is co-chaired by the Chancellor and the Prime Minister. It is a long-established precedent that information about the discussions that have taken place in Cabinet and its committees - including mission boards - including their attendance, and how often they have met, is not normally shared publicly.

Whether the hon. Member for Makerfield had responsibilities in relation to the Government response to the Humble Address whilst he was a Minister.

None

With reference to the letter from the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards to the Prime Minister of 27 February 2026 relating to the conduct of the Hon Member for Makerfield, whether any substantive letters or representations were received by the Cabinet Office or the Independent Adviser secretariat but not read by the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards.

It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation

Pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2026 to Question 119977 on Proof of Identity: Digital Technology, whether the postcode lottery process will invite (a) named individuals or (b) any householder who lives at a randomly selected address.

The People’s Panel for Digital ID is selected via civic lottery to ensure a representative sample of the public. Invitations are not sent to named individuals. Only one person from each household can be selected.

What discussions he has had with Interpath as administrators to Global Counsel Ltd on the retention of emails relating to Lord Mandelson and (a) the Humble Address and (b) to assist the Metropolitan Police investigation.

I refer you to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. TAll government departments, ministers and relevant individuals have been instructed to retain and provide to the Cabinet Office all information they hold that falls in scope of the Humble Address motion. The Government does not comment on ongoing police investigations but stands ready to support the police in whatever way it can.

What the responsibilities are of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister; and whether they have changed since the departure of the Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister.

The Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister's responsibilities are available on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/people/darren-jones

Whether his Department has signed any international agreements, including with supranational organisations, that do not have the formal legal status of treaties since July 2024.

It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation

Whether the Cabinet Secretary plans to issue a new edition of the Cabinet Manual in 2026-27.

It has not proved possible to respond to the Rt Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Explanatory Memorandum for European Union legislation within the scope of the UK/EU Withdrawal Agreement and Windsor Framework, COM(2023)201, June 2023, whether (a) Great British and (b) Northern Irish producers will be required to rename domestically-produced (i) jam and (ii) marmalade for sale in (A) Great Britain and (B) Northern Ireland as a consequence of the UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement; and whether other types of food will be affected by revised EU food labelling requirements.

As part of the UK-EU SPS Agreement currently being negotiated, the Government is making a sovereign choice in the national interest to align in some areas where it makes sense to do so. Once in force, the SPS agreement will mean less red tape and fewer costs for agrifood businesses trading with the EU.As set out in the Government’s recently published announcement on legislation in scope, this is expected to include among other rules on fruit jams, jellies & marmalades ((Directive 2001/113/EC). The full list remains subject to ongoing negotiations and may therefore change.The EU recently updated its rules on jams, jellies and marmalade, which will entail some changes to labelling of marmalade – requiring producers to label as ‘citrus marmalade’ or specify the type of citrus fruits used, which most UK producers already do.Jam producers will need to comply with EU rules on labelling of jams, extra jams and reduced sugar jams and ensure their labelling reflects compositional requirements, which will entail change for some producers.Under Windsor Framework commitments, Northern Ireland has already laid amending rules to implement the recent EU changes. These were laid on 20 January 2026 and will come into operation on the 14 June 2026.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Ministers in her Department were (a) consulted on and (b) approved the exit payment to Lord Mandelson.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer he received on 18 March in response to Question 120384.

Pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2026 to Question 122146 on Lord Mandelson, whether the steps taken to retain material include (a) accessing tape backups or (b) turning off the auto-delete policy on Number 10 computers.

I refer you to the Government's response to the Urgent Question tabled on 12th February, the Written Ministerial Statement in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister that same day, and the Oral Statement on the 23rd February, in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, which set out an update on the Government's process and that Departments have been instructed to retain material that may be relevant to the motion.

Pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2026 to Question 118525 on Ministers: Maternity Leave, whether Ministers providing temporary cover under the provisions of the Ministerial and other Maternity Allowances Act 2021 are entitled to a severance payment when they leave office.

Ministers providing temporary leave cover, whilst a minister takes maternity leave under the provisions of the Ministerial and other Maternity Allowances Act 2021, are asked to waive their entitlement to a severance payment.

With reference to the Cabinet Secretary's objectives 2026-27, published on 7 April 2026, what is the timetable for refreshing the Civil Service Code; in what manner will the code be refreshed; and whether political parties will be consulted.

It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.

What guidance he has given to Departments on whether (a) prior performance and (b) end-of-year appraisal are a material consideration in the Civil Service promotion process.

Departments and agencies have authority to determine promotion and lateral transfer arrangements for their own staff, in addition to the personal review arrangements for their own staff outside the Senior Civil Service. A condition of this authority is that promotion within the Civil Service must follow a decision as to the fitness of individuals, on merit, to undertake the duties concerned.The Civil Service uses the Success Profiles framework to attract and retain talent. This framework covers the expected levels for different grades, helping people understand suitability requirements for promotion or level transfer.

With reference to Office for Value for Money: Reforming the spending control and accountability framework, published 26 November 2025, whether the Chief Secretary to the Treasury will be required to approve exit payments under the new regime that operates from April 2026.

For contractual exit payments, any costs that exceed the Department’s delegated authority limit will need normal spending approvals. For non-contractual exit payments, the approval requirements, including the criteria for Chief Secretary to the Treasury approval, are set out in Public Sector Exit Payments Guidance on Special Severance Payments - GOV.UK.

Whether the Government will make payments to the European Union to participate in the Youth Mobility Scheme.

We have agreed that we will work towards the establishment of a balanced youth experience scheme with the EU. This will provide a valuable form of cultural exchange for young Brits and EU citizens with the opportunity to travel, work, study and experience other cultures. We have agreed that any scheme will be capped, subject to a visa requirement, as well as time-limited. We have been clear that the scheme should be in line with the UK’s existing schemes, such as Australia and New Zealand, but the exact parameters are subject to ongoing negotiation. This will not include financial contributions to the European Union - that is not how youth mobility schemes operate.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the EU Capital Requirements Directive VI on the UK banking sector.

As with all significant financial regulation developments in other jurisdictions, HMT is considering the potential implications of the EU Capital Requirements Directive VI on the UK banking sector. Strengthening our relationships with international partners, including the EU, is a key focus of the Government’s Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy.

Whether the UK will be liable for early termination payments if it does not renew Erasmus+ for a second year.

The UK will not be liable for any termination payments should the UK choose not to associate to the Erasmus+ programme from 2028.

When he will answer Question 119975, tabled on 11 March 2026, on Prime Minister: Correspondence.

It has not proved possible to respond to the Rt Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation