Written questions by Dewhirst.

Pursuant to the Answer of 17 March 2025 to Question 37807 on Advisory Committee on Business Appointments and House of Lords Appointments Commission, what the existing Memorandum of Understanding or equivalent document is between Cabinet Office and HOLAC.

There is no existing Memorandum of Understanding between HOLAC and the Cabinet Office. As with all independent advisory bodies, the Government keeps its arrangements with HOLAC under review. HOLAC has published on its website its Code of Practice and other information detailing the way in which it carries out its advisory role.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Mass cancellation of government credit cards in crackdown on wasteful spend, published on 18 March 2025, if he will require Departments to publish Government Procurement Card spending above £0.

All central Government departments are required to publish Government Procurement Card transactions of £500 and over in line with the guidance available to all government departments on gov.uk at the following link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5e8b402686650c18ce2cb541/Procurement_Cards_-_Pan_Government_Policy_V4_06042020.pdf. Departments can elect to publish transactions under £500 if they so wish.

Pursuant to the Answer of 4 March 2025 to Question 34456 on Information Rights User Group, whether the decision not to hold a meeting of the Group since April 2024 was made by (a) Ministers and (b) officials.

As was the case under the previous administration, the timing of meetings of the Group have been organised on an ad hoc basis. The Government will set out its plans for the Information Rights User Group in due course.

With reference to the Procurement Policy Note 002: Social Value Model, published in February 2025, what estimate he has made of the regulatory cost to the public sector of such contract compliance requirements of the new measures on trade unions and fair work.

Central government uses the same tool for assessing social value that has been used since 2021, where central government buyers select evaluation criteria from the options available in the social value model. We have made updates to the social value model, to streamline it, align it with the government’s missions and ensure suppliers’ commitments are targeted to need. Any new criteria in the social value model must only be used where they are proportionate and relevant to the contract to prevent creating burdens.

Whether his Department has used AI software to help respond to (a) Freedom of Information Act requests and (b) written parliamentary questions.

All FOI requests and written parliamentary questions are considered on a case by case basis. In the Cabinet Office, AI software is not currently used to respond to FOI requests or written parliamentary questions. AI software may be used in the future, as appropriate, to support certain elements of these processes.

What the length of time before an email in his Department's inbox is subject to automatic deletion; whether such deleted emails remain searchable on the Server; and whether (a) manually deleted and (b) auto-deleted emails remain held for the purposes of (i) public inquiries, (ii) subject access requests and (iii) Freedom of Information Act requests.

Emails sent to or received by a minister’s mailbox are retained permanently as an official record, and remain available for public inquiries, subject access or freedom of information requests. Individual emails may be reviewed at a future date for their historical relevance before transfer to The National Archives, but they are not subject to automatic deletion. The mailboxes of permanent secretaries are similarly preserved, and those of senior staff (grade SCS PB2 and above) are retained for a period of seven years after they leave their post. After seven years the contents are reviewed and records of historic value selected for permanent preservation. Unless there is a reason to retain them for a public or other inquiry, or to respond to litigation, all other staff mailboxes are destroyed twelve months after they leave Cabinet Office’s employment.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 December 2024 to Question 18212 on Prime Minister: Special Advisers, when he plans to publish a list of special advisers and their salaries.

Information on Special Adviser numbers and costs will be published in the Annual Report on Special Advisers as per the requirements of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, as was the case under the previous Administration.

Pursuant to the Answer of 14 March 2025 to Question 37425 on Office for National Statistics: Industrial Disputes, what the disputed issues are.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon. Member's Parliamentary Question of 26th March is attached.

Whether the Government plans to publish a further round of the UK National Action Plan for Open Government; and which department is the lead for progress on previous action plans.

The Cabinet Office holds responsibility for coordinating the UK National Action Plan for Open Government 2024-2025, including leading progress on actions set out in the current plan. Named departments hold responsibility for specific commitments, as set out on gov.uk. We will share a further update in due course.

Pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2025 to Question 23884 on 10 Downing Street: Repairs and Maintenance, if he will publish the Freedom of Information Act response with reference FOI2025/01530.

A copy of the response to FOI2025/01530 has now been deposited in the House Library. The media suite is in a listed part of 9 Downing Street.

Whether he plans to publish guidance on diversity networks.

Government Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) networks are internal, volunteer staff networks and so any guidance would not routinely be published. The Civil Service Code, which is published and available here, sets out the standards of behaviour expected of all civil servants.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2025 to Question 29022 on Ministers: Aviation, how that carbon offsetting is calculated; and if he will publish the contract with EDF.

Carbon offsetting is calculated by determining the total tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) emissions that need to be offset. This amount is then multiplied by the cost per tonne of CO2e for the specific offsets being purchased, such as Certified Emissions Reduction offsets. The final cost can vary based on market conditions at the time of purchase.The Cabinet Office utilises the HMG Crown Commercial Services (CCS) RM6251 Energy Supply Framework with EDF to offset these emissions: https://www.crowncommercial.gov.uk/agreements/RM6251

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2025 to Question 29022 on Ministers: Aviation, what the cost-metric is by which carbon offsetting is calculated; and if he will place a copy of the EDF contract in the House of Commons Library.

Carbon offsetting costs are determined by the tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) that are being offset, multiplied by the cost per tonne of CO2e from the Certified Emissions Reduction offsets provided by EDF under the framework contract. These costs can fluctuate based on the timing of purchase, as market trading demands affect the price.The calculation metric used indicates that 1 kilogram of aviation fuel burned results in approximately 3.15 kilograms of CO2 emitted.The Cabinet Office uses the HMG Crown Commercial Services (CCS) RM6251 Energy Supply Framework (Additional Services) with EDF for offsetting these emissions. For more information, please refer to the following link: https://www.crowncommercial.gov.uk/agreements/RM6251.

How many Departments have an Outcome Delivery Plan for 2024-25.

I refer the Honorable Member to the answer given to the Honorable Member for Brentwood and Ongar on 13 January 2025 (PQ UIN 21348).

Pursuant to the Answer of 27 February 2025 to Question 32906, on Government Departments: Telephone Services, whether the Government Communication Service provides a departmental press office telephone number to members of the press.

It is up to the individual departments to decide their preferred method of communication with members of the press. Within the Cabinet Office press office, there is not a single telephone number, communication takes place via pressoffice@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.

Pursuant to the Answer of 31 July 2024 to Question 1208 on Government Communication Service, if he will publish a breakdown of the staff for each of the non-departmental public bodies that are not included in the Section 14 of the published Annual Civil Service Employment Survey.

I refer the Hon. Member to Question 16512, answered on 5 December 2024.

Whether Ministers in receipt of a political donation from an (a) unincorporated association and (b) members' association must declare the identity of the ultimate donor behind the donation to their (i) Permanent Secretary and (ii) the Independent Advisor.

There is an established process in place for the declaration and management of private interests held by ministers. This ensures that steps are taken to avoid or mitigate any actual or perceived conflicts of interest. As part of this process, ministers and their permanent secretaries are asked to consider together whether any recent donations may have a bearing on the minister’s portfolio and duties and to agree appropriate mitigations. Ministers are also required, as MPs and peers, to adhere to the relevant parliamentary code of conduct with regards to declaring interests. This includes registering donations and other support, details of which are made public on Parliament’s website.

For what reasons was there no public consultation on the new joint Framework Agreement for Civil Service Commission, Advisory Committee on Business Appointments and Commissioner for Public Appointments.

There is no requirement to carry out a public consultation on Framework Agreements, as was the case under the previous government. As such, none was undertaken on the new joint Framework Agreement for Civil Service Commission, Advisory Committee on Business Appointments and Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Whether the Government advertises on X.

I refer the honourable gentleman to the previous response given to Question 14352. Between October 2023 and October 2024, the Cabinet Office has spent £0 advertising on X.

Whether any Cabinet Ministers have donated a book to the Prime Minister's Library since 5 July 2024.

No donations have been made to the Prime Minister's Library since 5 July 2024.