Every parliamentary written question tabled by Alex Burghart this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 81–100 of 336 · this parliament
If he will ask the Prime Minister to reinstate the conventions on the Prime Minister's Library and the policy of acquisitions from current and former members of the Cabinet.
The Government is taking the necessary steps to allow Cabinet Ministers to make donations to the Library.
Further to pages 106 and 107 of the Part of a Return to an Address of the Honourable the House of Commons dated 4 February 2026 relating to the appointment of Lord Mandelson as HM Ambassador to Washington, Volume 1, HC1774-I, 11 March 2026 and with reference to paragraph 3.1 of her Department's document entitled Guidance on Public Sector Exit Payments, published in November 2025, and Annex A4.13 of her Department's document entitled Managing Public Money, published in June 2025, what discussions she had with the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Developments Affairs on whether the Special Severance Payment was paid to Lord Mandelson because it was (a) exceptional, (b) novel, (c) contentious and (d) repercussive.
The Chancellor did not have any discussions with the Foreign Secretary on this issue.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment was made of the potential impact of Lord Mandelson's shareholdings in Global Counsel on his suitability to be appointed as UK Ambassador to the United States prior to that appointment being made.
I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11 March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament's instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
Pursuant to the Answer of 4 March 2026 to Question 116167 on Peers, whether a sitting peer removed from the Roll of the Peerage is eligible to be receive a Writ of Summons from the Lord Chancellor to Parliament.
The Roll of the Peerage is an officially compiled and maintained list, intended to contain the names of all living peers. If a title has been removed from the Roll of the Peerage, it can no longer be used in official documents. Removal would not affect an individual’s membership of the House of Lords, where relevant, and an individual would still be entitled to receive a writ of summons if already eligible.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, further to the Part of a Return to an Address of the Honourable the House of Commons dated 4 February 2026 relating to the appointment of Lord Mandelson as HM Ambassador to Washington, Volume 1, HC1774-I, 11 March 2026, whether the Permanent Under-Secretary had discussions with Lord Mandelson, when Ambassador to the United States, about the Epstein files released by the United States Department of Justice.
I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11 March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament's instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Lord Mandelson was investigated for misconduct under the Civil Servant Code.
I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11 March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament's instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
Whether the Propriety and Ethics Team who produced the due diligence on Lord Mandelson were involved in the substantive response to the Humble Address motion of 4 February 2026.
Staff from across the Cabinet Office including but not limited to the Public Inquiry Response Unit and the Propriety and Constitution Group are involved in compliance with the Humble Address motion as necessary.
With reference to his statement on Lord Mandelson: Response to Humble Address Motion of 11 March 2026, Official Report, Column 360, which document had a limited redaction.
I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
Whether he considers papers relating to Global Counsel to be in scope of the response to the Humble Address of 4 February 2026.
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. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
Whether the information Lord Mandelson provided as part of the vetting process for his appointment to UK Ambassador to the United States impacted his dismissal from that role.
I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
Who was interviewed by the General Counsel to the Prime Minister in his fact-finding exercise in the context of the return to the Humble Address; and how many people were interviewed.
I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
Whether he has provided guidance to Cabinet colleagues on recording overlay advice to Ministers.
The term “overlay advice” is not in general use, so no such guidance has been issued.
Whether the Ethics and Integrity Commission plans to undertake a public consultation on the review into lobbying, disclosure and access to government.
The Ethics and Integrity Commission (EIC) is independent of the government. The EIC has set out further information about the review, including a call for evidence, on its website at the following link: https://eic.independent-commission.uk/what-we-do/reports-and-reviews/ It can be contacted at contact@eic.independent.gov.uk
Whether he plans to extend Universal Basic Services across government.
Universal Basic Services is not a government policy and is not being explored by the Cabinet Office.
Pursuant to the answer of 23 February 2026, to Question 111183, on Prime Minister: Correspondence, and the associated reply of 13 February 2026, what is the timetable for the Government responding to the formal (a) stage 2 complaint and (b) stage 1 complaint, contained in the Hon Member for Brentwood and Ongar's letter of 15 August 2025.
It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation
What criteria his Department plans to use to determine proposed (a) national security and (b) international relation redactions in the context of the Government’s response to the humble Address laid before the House on 4 February.
I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
How many documents due to be disclosed in the Government’s response to the Humble Address will not be disclosed until after the legal proceedings being investigated by the Metropolitan Police.
As per the statement from the Metropolitan Police on 4th February 2026, they are asking us to refrain from publishing any relevant documents that could prejudice their investigation. We do not comment on ongoing police investigations. The Government stands ready to support the police in whatever way it can.
What the cost to the public purse has been for the recruitment and deployment of reconciliation teams from other Departments to assist Capita in managing the backlog of pension queries; and whether this cost will be recovered from Capita through contractual clawback provisions.
The Cabinet Office awarded the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme (CSPS) to Capita in November 2023 under the previous government. The issues and delays facing a number of civil servants and pension scheme members in receiving their pension quotes are unacceptable. I want to reassure you that this Government has taken firm action to help put things right as soon as possible. We have agreed a clear recovery plan with Capita, which includes specific milestones and accountability targets for delivery. For priority cases, we have deployed additional resources and improved communication to ensure members receive the support they deserve. While the immediate focus remains on stabilising the service through this intensive recovery plan, we are committed to ensuring all staff, both former and serving, receive the quality of service and support they deserve. Existing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) have been enhanced and strengthened to deliver improved performance and higher penalties for failure, including financial penalties. These have already applied in respect to Capita's performance with recent issues and delays in administering the Civil Service Pension Scheme. Furthermore, any service failures attract penalties which reduce the overall cost of the contract. While the specific financial values of commercial transactions remain confidential, the Cabinet Office has already withheld significant transition milestone payments due to missed deliverables and continues to apply the full mechanism of service credits for performance failures. Capita also remains responsible for any additional expenses incited. The Cabinet Office will continue to use all available commercial levers to hold Capita to account and ensure they deliver the contractual service levels.
Whether her Department has had discussions with the Bank of England on the potential impact of the removal of historic British figures from the new series of banknotes on British national identity.
The Bank of England is entirely responsible for the design, production, issue and distribution of banknotes. HM Treasury has not discussed the change of design with the Bank of England.
With reference to the consultation paper on Digital ID, published on 10 March 2026, CP1498, which company will be administering the People’s Panel for Digital ID; and what cost the cost will be.
We need to make sure digital ID works for everyone, and that’s why we’re establishing a People’s Panel on digital ID, which brings together a diverse group of people - selected to be broadly representative of the population of the UK - to consider different perspectives and debate trade-offs. The People’s Panel will cost approximately £630,000 This will be covered under a pre-existing contract with Ipsos, which is the primary vendor, signed in March 2024. The vendor is a significant long-term government contractor, including under the last administration.