Written questions by Burghart.

Who has final authority to determine whether material falls within scope of the Humble Address of 4 February 2026.

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 Oral Statement on the 23 February which set out an update on the Government's process for complying with the Humble Address motion. We will set out further details in due course. The Government wishes to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.

Who was involved in determining the scope of material to be disclosed in the Government response to the Humble Address on Lord Mandelson.

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 Oral Statement on the 23 February which set out an update on the Government's process for complying with the Humble Address motion. We will set out further details in due course. The Government wishes to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.

With reference to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Cabinet Office of 12 February 2026, Official Report, Column 923, on Lord Mandelson: Government Response to Humble Address Motion, if he will publish the instruction given to Government departments on retaining relevant material.

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 Oral Statement on the 23 February which set out an update on the Government's process for complying with the Humble Address motion. We will set out further details in due course. The Government wishes to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.

Whether voluntary disclosures by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care relating to Lord Mandelson’s appointment will be treated as indicative of the proper scope of disclosure under the Government response to the Humble Address of 4 February 2026.

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 Oral Statement on the 23 February which set out an update on the Government's process for complying with the Humble Address motion. We will set out further details in due course. The Government wishes to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.

Whether any formal performance concerns were recorded in relation to Sir Chris Wormald as Cabinet Secretary.

The Prime Minister and Sir Chris Wormald agreed that Sir Chris would stand down as the Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service by mutual agreement.

With reference to his speech of 20 January 2026, entitled Move fast. Fix things, what role Permanent Secretaries will retain in agreeing, moderating and approving KPIs set for Senior Civil Servants.

Permanent Secretaries are responsible for delivering on and cascading their Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), as set by Ministers, to their direct reports and subsequently the rest of the SCS cadre.

With reference to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Cabinet Office of 12 February 2026, Official Report, Columns 929 and 932, on Lord Mandelson: Government Response to Humble Address Motion, if he will publish guidance given to Ministers on releasing their communications and the managed process which Ministers must abide by.

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.

Pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2026, to Question 107710, Erasmus+ Programme: Flags, whether separate EU communication and visibility rules apply to the Jean Monnet Actions programme.

Under the Erasmus+ Regulation, and as set out in the Erasmus+ Programme Guide, the same EU communication and visibility requirements apply to Jean Monnet Actions. Jean Monnet Actions are open to any eligible institution that chooses to apply for a Jean Monnet project and is successful in securing funding.

With reference to the No10 press release of 12 February 2026 entitled The Prime Minister and Cabinet Secretary have agreed by mutual consent the Cabinet Secretary will stand down, which official will be responsible for (a) the Government response to the Humble Address and (b) the Cabinet Secretary’s review into Lord Mandelson.

I refer you to the Oral Statement on the 23 February in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister which confirms that the Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary is leading this process. The former Cabinet Secretary was asked to review available information regarding Peter Mandelson’s contacts with Jeffrey Epstein during his period as a Minister. After an initial review of some documents, the matter was referred to the police. In light of the ongoing criminal investigation that was announced, that review has now been paused. The government is cooperating fully with the police investigation and providing any assistance required.

Whether Ministers and special advisers have been asked to provide details of communications with Global Counsel to his Department as part of the (a) Government response to the Humble Address and (b) Cabinet Secretary’s review into Lord Mandelson.

The Government is committed to complying with the Humble Address. Departments have been instructed to retain and provide to the Cabinet Office all information that falls in scope of the Humble Address motion. The former Cabinet Secretary was asked to review available information regarding Peter Mandelson’s contacts with Jeffrey Epstein during his period as a Minister. After an initial review of some documents, the matter was referred to the police. In light of the ongoing criminal investigation that was announced, that review has now been paused. The government is cooperating fully with the police investigation and providing any assistance required.

Pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2026, to Question 107710, Erasmus+ Programme: Flags, whether UK (a) schools, (b) teacher training and (c) universities will participate in Jean Monnet Actions programme, including (i) learning about the history of the European Union, (ii) promoting a shared EU identity and (iii) the 2026 thematic theme of "A resilient Single Market to boost EU enlargement as a catalyst for progress competitiveness”.

Under the Erasmus+ Regulation, and as set out in the Erasmus+ Programme Guide, the same EU communication and visibility requirements apply to Jean Monnet Actions. Jean Monnet Actions are open to any eligible institution that chooses to apply for a Jean Monnet project and is successful in securing funding.

Whether the outgoing Cabinet Secretary was on a legacy Permanent Secretary contract.

The Permanent Secretary model contract sets out the contractual details for all Permanent Secretaries including the Cabinet Secretary. A copy of the model contract has been placed in the House Library.

Whether his Department has approved an exit payment to the most recently departed Cabinet Secretary.

The necessary approvals were given, as set out in the Guidance on Public Sector Exit Payments.

If he will publish applications made by Lord Mandelson to the Advisory Committee to Business Appointments between May 2010 and May 2012.

Information about historic Business Application Rules applications can be found on GOV.UK. The 2010-2011 Advisory Committee to Business Appointments Annual Report can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7d965340f0b65084e76188/Twelfth_Annual_Report_2010-2011.pdf, and the 2011-2012 Annual Report can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a74e389ed915d3c7d528bcd/ACOBA_Thirteenth_Annual_Report_2011-12.pdf

Whether the Intelligence and Security Committee will have access to independent legal advice for the consideration of the redaction of the material to be released in response to the Humble Address of 4 February 2026.

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 (a) Cabinet Office Legal Advisers and (b) the National Security Adviser will have a role in the redaction of the material to be released in response to the Humble Address of 4 February 2026.

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.

What steps he is taking to help avoid conflicts of interest for civil servants working on ISC oversight of his Department’s response to the Humble Address of 4 February 2026.

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.Civil Servants remain bound by the Civil Service Code at all times, and by their departmental policies on managing conflicts of interest.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 13 November 2025 to Question 88303 on Prime Minister: Correspondence, what progress he has made on responding to the correspondence of 15 August 2025 from the Rt hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar on Lord Mandelson.

I apologise for the delay in responding to the Hon Member's correspondence. A response was issued on 13 February.

Pursuant to the answer of 8 January 2026 to Question 101383 on Government Actuary's Department: Freedom of Information, what is the evidential basis for the Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry's statement that the £34,702 million figure by the Government Actuary's Department was incorrect.

It is incorrect to present the nominal costs as the true amount, and to ignore the effects of inflation and the changing value of money on the real costs of a deal that lasts 99 years.The figures published by the Government Actuary's Department clearly show that they had also calculated a net present value of £3.4 billion, by using the OBR forecast inflation rate along with the Social Time Discount Rate set out in the Green Book. The Government gave a detailed breakdown of this methodology in the explanatory memorandum we published alongside the Treaty in May 2025.This is standard practice for any long-term Government deal. It ensures the figures are realistic, comparable, and not artificially inflated by adding up future payments without considering the time value of money.These figures also have been verified and confirmed by the Office for Statistics Regulation and Office for Budget Responsibility.

With reference to the UK-EU Summit - Common Understanding, 22 December 2025, whether he plans to make additional financial contributions to the European Union as a consequence of the new provisions on Health Security.

The United Kingdom is committed to working with the European Union to strengthen our preparedness and response capabilities to serious cross-border health threats. The UK and the EU are exploring ways to enable improved information exchange and cooperation on health security, including within the existing framework of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement health security provisions. The details of any agreements, including financial contributions, are subject to ongoing negotiations with the EU.