Written questions by Dewhirst.

With reference to his Department's publication entitled Special adviser data releases: numbers and costs, November 2024, published on 28 November 2024, for what reason his Department has not published the list of special adviser salaries for the current administration; and if he will publish the current list of special advisers before the end of the calendar year.

As was the case under the previous administration, annual reports on special advisers relate to the preceding financial year.The Annual Report on Special Advisers published on 28 November 2024, therefore relates to the 2023/24 financial year.The 2025 Annual Report on Special Advisers, which will relate to the 2024/25 financial year, will be published before the end of this year.

Whether (a) Downing Street and (b) his Department collates information on each (i) domestic and (ii) overseas flight undertaken by (A) the Prime Minister and (B) other Ministers.

Ministerial travel is undertaken using efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements. Security considerations are also taken into account. As was the practice under the previous Government, information about official overseas ministerial travel will be published as part of the Cabinet Office transparency returns and made available on GOV.UK.

With reference to the Answer of 25 November 2024 to Question HL2426 on Ministers: Official Cars, how many vehicles of the Government Car Service were available for senior official use in (a) 2023 and (b) in the latest period for which data is available.

The Government Car Service (GCS) does not determine the allocation of vehicles to senior officials, this is carried out by individual Departmental Private Offices. The arrangements relating to the use of vehicles from the Government Car Service are set out in the Civil Service Management Code. There has been no change in this policy since 2023.

With reference to the Answer of 25 November 2024 to Question HL2426 on Ministers: Official Cars, how many of those cars in each year listed were electric cars.

The number of electric vehicles in the Government Car Service operational fleet for the specified years is:1.2016: 42. 2023: 363.2024: 36

With reference to his Department's advert for Second Permanent Secretary, European Union and International Economic Affairs, reference number 380316, if he will publish the panel members of that competition.

Details of the panel members will be confirmed and published in due course.

What the cost to the public purse was of Government Campus ministerial induction sessions since July 2024; and what the estimated cost is of future scheduled sessions.

In July 2024, two ministerial induction events were held. One event was in-person and incurred costs of £55.00 for refreshments. One was held online and incurred no specific costs. The cost of future events will depend on the format chosen for delivery, but will be based on an appropriate use of public money.

Whether his Department has provided (a) media and (b) speech training to Ministers across government.

Since July 2024, there has been no provision of media or speech training to Ministers from the Cabinet Office.

For what reason his Department renamed the Cross-Government Women’s Network as the Cross-Government Gender Network.

The network has been operating under this name since it was changed in July 2020, under the previous administration. The decision was made by the Cross-Government network itself, not by the Cabinet Office.

What the mean full-time equivalent salary is of staff in the (a) Office for Equality and Opportunity, (b) Women’s Equality Unit, (c) Race Disparity Unit and (d) Disability Unit in the most recent period for which data is available.

Salaries ranges for each civil servant grade are set by the Cabinet Office and are not at the discretion of the individual business units such as the Office for Equality and Opportunity. The mean full time equivalent salary of staff in the Office for Equality and Opportunity (which includes the sub-units of Women's Equality Unit, Race Disparity Unit and Disability Unit) is £54,400, rounded to the nearest £100.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2024 to Question 11964 on Cabinet Office: Official Cars, what the security reasons are for not disclosing the number of allocated departmental Government Car Service cars that are electric.

For security reasons specific details of allocations including make and model of vehicles, or any other information which could identify the vehicle are not issued.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2024 to Question 11965 on Cabinet Office: Official Cars, how many senior officials had use of an official car from the Government Car Service on (a) 3 July and (b) 8 November.

The Government Car Service (GCS) offers vehicles to government departments as a shared resource. Each department independently determines the allocation of these vehicles. For security reasons specific details of car allocations are not issued. The arrangements relating to the using of vehicles in the Government Car Service is set out in the Civil Service Management Code.

Pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2024 to Question 6998 on Cabinet Office: Official Cars, how many of those vehicles are electric.

For security reasons specific details of allocations including make and model of vehicles are not issued.The arrangements relating to the usage of vehicles in the Government Car Service are set out in the Civil Service Management Code.

Pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2024 to Question 6999 on Cabinet Office: Official Cars, if he will publish a list of senior officials in his Department with access to a government car.

For security reasons specific details of car allocations including make and model of vehicles are not issued.The arrangements relating to the usage of vehicles in the Government Car Service are set out in the Civil Service Management Code.

What meetings (a) Ministers and (b) his officials have held with external stakeholders since 5 July 2024.

Details of ministers’ and senior officials’ meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK. Data for the period of July to September 2024 will be published in due course.

What his Department's policy is on the allocation of Government Car Service cars to senior officials; what the policy was on 24 May 2024; and which senior officials have been granted access to the service since 4 July 2024.

The Government Car Service (GCS) offers vehicles to government departments as a shared resource. Each department independently determines the allocation of these vehicles.The arrangements relating to the using of vehicles in the Government Car Service is set out in the Civil Service Management Code.There has been no change in this policy since the general election.

Pursuant to the Answers of 6 September 2024 to Questions 2306 and 2308 on Ministers: Official Cars, which (a) Ministers and (b) officials in (i) his Department, (ii) the Government Equalities Office, (iii) the UK Statistics Authority and (iv) the Office for National Statistics have (A) been allocated a dedicated vehicle and (B) access to use of a shared vehicle from the Government Car Service; what the (1) make, (2) model and (3) fuel type is for each car; and what the budget was for those cars in the 2024-25 financial year.

The Government Car Service (GCS) offers vehicles to government departments as a shared resource. Each department independently determines the allocation of these vehicles. This policy has not changed since the general election.The Cabinet Office is currently allocated 13 vehicles (this is a mix of full and part time allocations) including shared vehicles. This is for Cabinet Office only and other entities listed are managed separately.For security reasons specific details of allocations including make and model of vehicles are not issued.The average cost to a Department for a single DPC (Department Pool Car) in 2024/25 financial year is £108K per annum.

Pursuant to the Answer of 2 September 2024, to Question 2632, on Civil Service: Staff, whether he has a target (a) headcount and (b) FTE size for the civil service.

Decisions on the future size of the Civil Service will form a part of the comprehensive Spending Review.

Pursuant to the answer of 6 September 2024 to Question 2639 on Civil Servants: Recruitment and Training, what guidance (a) the Government Equalities Office, (b) his Department and (c) the Government People Group has issued to Departments on reducing consultancy spending on equality, diversity and inclusion.

The Civil Service Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Expenditure Guidance published on 14 May 2024 remains in place.

Pursuant to the answer of 6 September 2024, to Question 2630, on Government Departments: Communication, what the timetable is for the review of planned government communications and marketing.

A review of planned government communications and marketing is currently in progress.