Written questions by Dewhirst.

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 December 2024 to Question 18402 on Freedom of Information, if he will place in the Library a copy of the most recent FOI Round Robin list, redacting the personal names of any requester.

As with the previous administration, this Government does not publish Freedom of Information round robin lists. Freedom of Information round robin lists contain a reference number, the text of the request, and any advice or guidance on the approach to be taken. The lists do not include the names of the requestor. Further information on round robin lists can be found on GOV.UK at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cabinet-office-and-freedom-of-information.

What oversight his Department provides towards the Government's progress on the Places for Growth targets; and whether his Department produces RAG ratings for each Department based on their performance in meeting those targets.

Places for Growth is overseen by the Places for Growth Portfolio Oversight Board, led by Beth Russell, the Second Permanent Secretary at HM Treasury. Departments provide updates on their commitments to relocate roles, including relocation data. This information is published on gov.uk.

Pursuant to the answer of 27 November 2024, to Question 15236, on Cabinet Office: Staff, how many individuals are registered with the Skills Match Hub; what grades those individuals hold; what the average time is for an individual to spend in the hub before being redeployed; how many individuals have been redeployed since 4 July 2024; what steps his Department is taking to reduce the time individuals spend in the hub; and how many individuals have been without a substantive post for more than six months.

At any point in time, there is likely to be a small number of individuals who have been displaced due to restructures within their business units or, for example, have returned from a loan from another department and their role no longer exists. The exact number changes on a day-to-day basis. The grades of the individuals range from Executive Officer to SCS2. The average time for an individual to spend in the hub is fluid. Whilst these individuals are attached to the Skills Match Hub, they remain in their business units and are managed by their line managers to ensure they continue to receive meaningful work and are appropriately supported, while they work through the redeployment process. The department is increasing emphasis and priority on more swiftly matching displaced people to new vacancies before any formal recruitment is undertaken. As was the case under the previous administration, any new vacancies in Cabinet Office cannot be advertised until the role has been reviewed first by the Skills Match Hub for a possible match to anyone registered. If there are no suitable candidates registered, the vacancy can then be advertised.

Pursuant to the answer of 2 December 2024 to Question 8803 on Cabinet Office: Software, whether additional work under existing contracts has been awarded to Fujitsu since 4 July 2024.

Details of central government contracts where the contract value is above £12,000 are published on Contracts Finder: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search As with any service, during the life of the contract there may be periods when suppliers are required to perform more work, as allowed under the contract, and periods when they do less. The ability of the authorities to vary the amount of work is detailed in each specific contract. If there is significant additional work required, which exceeds what is allowed under the contract, that is also published on Contracts Finder, in line with the publication requirements.In January 2024, Fujitsu said it would withdraw from bidding for contracts for new work with new Government customers until the Post Office Horizon inquiry concludes – it would only bid for work with existing Government customers where it already has a contract with them, or where there is an agreed need for Fujitsu’s skills and capabilities.Fujitsu's bid approach is detailed in this letter, deposited in Parliament. For more details, please see here.

If he will make an assessment of the (a) efficiency and (b) effectiveness of the propriety and ethics team.

All teams within the Cabinet Office are subject to the department's performance management processes.

If he will make it his policy to reduce the size of the Government Communications Service as part of the Spending Review Phase 2.

The Government Communications Service constantly assesses all teams to ensure they are delivering value for money and operating in the most effective and efficient way possible. Decisions on the outcome of Spending Review Phase 2 will be announced in the normal way.

Whether public appointment competitions under the Governance Code for Public Appointments can be (a) extended before the public deadline for the closure of applications and (b) re-opened to new applicants after the public deadline has passed.

I refer the honourable member to the answer given in my Named Day Written Answer on 20 January (PQ 24247).

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 December 2024 to Question 17545 on Prime Minister: Public Appointments, what the (a) bodies and (b) offices are.

There is nothing further to my answer of 11 December 2024, Official Report, PQ 17545. Individual appointments made by the Prime Minister are publicly announced on gov.uk at the time of appointment.

Whether the Second Permanent Secretary, European Union and International Economic Affairs has made a declaration of political activity; and if he publish the declared interests of the Second Permanent Secretary.

There are established processes in place to declare and manage interests in the Civil Service, which were followed during the Second Permanent Secretary's appointment.

Pursuant to the Answer of 12 December 2024 to Question 18216 on Senior Civil Servants: Training, where the two SCS Leadership Conferences took place; and what the cost was of each event.

The two SCS Leadership Conferences were delivered as part of a wider leadership development programme. The SCS Conference (Summer 2024) took place at the DeVere Grand Connaught Room, London. The venue hire and catering for this event cost £12,520.42. The SCS Conference (Autumn 2024) took place at The Royal Horseguards Hotel, & One Whitehall Place, London. The venue hire and catering for this event cost £11,250.00.

Pursuant to the Answer of 25 November 2024 to Question 13808 on 9 Downing Street: Media, what (a) alterations and (b) other works have taken place in the media room since November 2024; what the cost of those works was; which contractors were used; and which Department authorised the cost of these works.

A one-off refresh of the facility was undertaken in December 2024. This has restored the room back to its original politically neutral state. The cost of these works will be published in due course in Cabinet Office transparency returns. The works were carried out by OCS, and authorised by the Cabinet Office.

Whether guidance has been issued to Government Departments on the difference between (a) positive action and (b) positive discrimination in recruitment processes.

Under the previous administration, guidance for employers was published in regards to positive action in the workplace which highlights the difference between positive action and positive discrimination.It is the responsibility of each department to ensure their recruitment practices align fully with all relevant legislation, including the Equality Act 2010. Managers and vacancy holders are accountable to their HR Director for ensuring that vacancies are filled in accordance with departmental processes and legislation. HR Directors are responsible for assurance of the process.

With reference to his Department's press notice on start-ups published on 9 December 2024, how will the new secondment scheme differ from previous secondment schemes.

The scheme will be an inward secondment programme into the Public Sector Reform, Test & Learn team, for public service delivery experts, working near the frontline to help drive public service reform in their field. The scheme will be flexible in terms of duration and location, and specifically for those with experience relevant to the public service reform project. In addition, the Government is encouraging people from startups and tech companies to enter Government for six to twelve month “Tours of Duty”, putting their skills to use tackling big challenges such as criminal justice or healthcare reform in the next phase of the No 10 Innovation Fellows Programme.

When the Honours and Appointments Secretariat last updated the guidance on involvement of Ministers in the Honours System; and if he will place a copy of the current guidance in the Library.

Ministerial guidance on their involvement in the Honours System was last issued by the Prime Minister's Office in June 2022.

Pursuant to the Answer of 14 November 2024 to Question 14352 on Government Departments: X Corp and with reference to the SAFE Framework for HMG Brand Safety, how many instances have been recorded where HM Government advertising appeared alongside content later deemed unsuitable since 5 July 2024; and what corrective actions were taken in each case.

Our third party supplier uses verification technology to check that advertising only appears next to appropriate content online. This happens automatically on all our campaigns.They also continue to monitor after delivery. If they find an issue, we immediately pause the advertising campaign until the issue is addressed, and we can be sure it is safe.We have not had any reported issues between 5 July 2024 and present.

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 December 2024 to Question 18218 on Ministers: Convictions, whether the established process for appointing Ministers involves the Cabinet Office Ethics and Propriety Team asking if an appointee has previous criminal convictions.

Appointees have a declaration of interests conversation with the Propriety and Ethics Team on appointment, the details of which are confidential. All ministers are expected to adhere to the high standards of conduct set out in the Ministerial Code.

Pursuant to the Answer of 26 November 2024 to Question 14113 on the Permanent Secretary Remuneration Committee, whether decisions on Permanent Secretary remuneration are subject to ministerial (a) review and (b) approval.

The Prime Minister makes the final decisions on Permanent Secretary remuneration following recommendations made by the Permanent Secretary Remuneration Committee.

With reference to the Civil Service Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Expenditure Guidance, published on 14 May 2024, who is responsible for authorising external equality, diversity and inclusion expenditure in his Department.

The Cabinet Office complies with the Civil Service Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Expenditure guidance published on 14 May 2024, where approval of any external spend is signed off by a Minster or delegated to the Permanent Secretary.

With reference to the Security and Intelligence Agencies Financial Statement 2023-24, for what reason the net cash requirement for the Security and Intelligence Agencies was £419.85 million lower than the estimate; and what assessment he has made of the impact of this underspend on the delivery of planned programmes.

As has been the policy of successive governments, the government does not comment on matters relating to the intelligence agencies. The Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament scrutinises the policies, expenditure, administration and operations of the intelligence agencies on behalf of Parliament.

How many members of the senior civil service in his Department have been in post on an interim basis for more than 12 months.

There are 13 Senior Civil Servants in the Cabinet Office who have been in post on a temporary promotion for more than 12 months as of the 31st of December 2024.