Written questions by Dewhirst.

Pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2025 to Question 74185 on Deputy Prime Minister: Admiralty House, whether his Department claimed single person discount for Admiralty House before August 2025.

Westminster City Council’s single person discount can only apply to residences that are your sole or main residence, therefore, the Admiralty House residences are currently ineligible for the discount and a discount was not claimed for or applied to the former DPM’s tenure.

Pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2025 to Question 74185 on Deputy Prime Minister: Admiralty House, on what date his Department informed Westminster City Council that the residence in Admiralty House was occupied as a secondary residence.

As the property was a second residence, the Government was responsible for paying the Council Tax on Admiralty House, not the former Deputy Prime Minister - in line with long-standing precedent under successive governments. As has been the case under successive administrations, the Government Property Agency is responsible for liaising with Westminster City Council for matters concerning residency at Admiralty House. Following the introduction of the second homes premium, this has been paid in full in a one-off full payment in July 2025. This payment was made on the date the invoice was received from Westminster City Council.

With reference to page 250 of the Cabinet Office annual report and accounts 2024-25, published on 23 October 2025, what is the (a) purpose and (b) function of the Gresham Estate contract.

The responsibility of the Gresham Estate was transferred to the Office of Government Property (OGP) in 2018. This is an annuity payment which dates back to an Act of Parliament in 1768, when Lord Gresham gave the site to the Crown to use. The Act said he would be paid £500 per annum, and this liability passed to the Gresham Trust when he died, and this is now managed by the Mercers’ Company.

With reference to page 67 of the Cabinet Office annual report and accounts 2024-25, published on 23 October 2025, if he will list the venues that Cabinet away days took place in 2024-25.

Cabinet away days taking place in 2024-2025 have been located at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Lancaster House and Chequers.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will publish a copy of all due diligence and vetting reports produced for the appointment of Lord Mandelson.

It has been the longstanding policy under successive governments not to publish clearances or national security vetting reports.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Lord Mandelson will receive severance pay following his withdrawal as Ambassador to the United States of America.

Lord Mandelson's withdrawal is undergoing normal HR processes.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will publish a list of each guest entertained by Lord Mandelson during his tenure as Ambassador to the United States of America.

UK Ambassadors and High Commissioners host a wide range of guests. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not publish details of such meetings.

How many houses in multiple occupation are currently being funded by the Home Office to house migrants, broken down by local authority area.

The Home Office does not publish detailed information on the location of asylum accommodation sites for safety and security reasons. Data, published quarterly, on the number of supported asylum seekers in accommodation can be found within the Asy_D11 tab of our most recent statistics release. The data can broken down by local authority rather than by constituency.Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UKThe Home Office, and its accommodation providers, take into account a range of issues when considering the suitability for dispersed accommodation. Local authorities are consulted on bedspaces before they are procured.

Food and Rural Affairs, when the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund will open for applications.

The Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund is a £360 million long-term investment, delivered over 12 years. We are working closely with industry to identify priority areas for support and to ensure funding is targeted where it will have the greatest impact. Following the conclusion of this engagement phase, we will establish and confirm timelines for the scheme’s launch. This will not open before March 2026 but will be communicated once finalised.

When the Lords' Commissioners of the Treasury will next meet.

There are no plans for the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury to meet. As set out in the Annual Report and Accounts, the Treasury Board met once since July 2024 and the Chancellor of the Exchequer was in attendance.

What assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policies of the Review of the Arms Length Body Landscape; and if he will provide an update.

The government is undertaking a comprehensive review of the entire Arm's Length Body (ALB) landscape, as announced on 6 April 2025, and is a core part of creating a productive and agile state. The review is ongoing, and outcomes will be communicated in due course.

Pursuant to the Answer of 17 July 2025 to Question 66296 on Armed Forces: Conferences, if he will place in the Library a copy of the (a) 6 February guidance and (b) previous edition of the guidance.

The MOD's policy for officials on contact with the media and communicating in public is available on gov.uk and has been in place for at least ten years: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defence-instruction-contact-with-media-and-public Copies of Defence Information Notices are not placed in the Library.

With reference to his Department's news story entitled Appointment to Cabinet Office Board, published on 19 August 2025, for what reason Greg Jackson’s appointment was announced after his term started.

Greg Jackson was appointed before the Summer Recess on 21 July to allow for the onboarding process, including conducting security checks, to be completed over the recess period. The announcement was made on 19 August, following fact checking and clearances as part of the onboarding process.

If he will publish the FOI disclosure reference (a) IC-390141-T8J5 and (b) FOI2025/01532.

I refer the honourable member to PQ 69874 where the FOI information sought is disclosed.

Whether (a) the National Security Adviser and (b) his Department has had meetings with Inter Mediate since 4 July 2024.

The National Security Adviser meets with a range of individuals and organisations as part of his role providing advice to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet on national security matters. Such meetings are often sensitive in nature, and the Government does not routinely comment on them or their content.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 July 2025 to Question 64058 on DBT: Directors, whether the Commissioner for Public Appointments was informed of her political background when his Department made the request.

The Commissioner for Public Appointments was consulted prior to Nita Clarke's appointment without open competition as a DBT Non-Executive Board Member, in line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments. As required under the Code, Nita Clarke declared her political activity for the Labour Party during the appointments process.

What his Department's policy is on levying VAT on (a) private health insurance and (b) private health care.

Both private health insurance and private health care are currently exempt from VAT. However, the responsibility for any future amendments to the VAT regime would not fall to the Department of Health and Social Care, but to HM Treasury.

With reference to the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority's Annual Report 2024–25, published on 11 August 2025, for what reason no evaluation was completed for the Rosa renewal project.

The Rosa Renewal Project was subject to the appropriate National Infrastructure Service Transformation Authority oversight, with the project coming to a formal close in March 2025. The project achieved a GREEN Delivery Confidence Assessment as part of its final Gate 5 assessment. Delivery of the specific products set out in the business case was achieved and, therefore, has now formally closed but evaluation and lessons learned activity continue under the Rosa Service Organisation’s business as usual governance.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many people have been fined by the Environment Agency for fishing with a rod licence since 4 July 2024.

All anglers caught fishing without a licence are subject to enforcement action as outlined in the Environment Agency’s Enforcement and Sanctions Policy here. Rod licence income is ring fenced to be used by the Environment Agency to maintain, improve and develop freshwater fisheries in England and Wales. Please see below the number people and actions for Offences for fishing without a Rod licence (Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act Section (1) (a). Actions taken betweenNumber of ProsecutionsAdvice & Guidance LettersWarning LettersCaution04/07/2024 to 01/09/202552763144111204/07/2023 to 01/09/2024475124381146 NB: The table includes for actions taken between 04/07/2023 to 01/09/2024, for comparison purposes. Please note, the EA has brought prosecutions against people, however the court imposes penalties after convictions, and the EA itself does not have the power to fine individuals for Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act offences. Fines are imposed by the courts and go to Treasury.

With reference to the Written Statement of 21 July 2025 on Government of service, HCWS870, whether the appointment of members to the Ethics and Integrity Commission will be made under the Public Appointments Order in Council; and which Department will be responsible for approving those appointments.

The Ethics and Integrity Commission will be established on 13 October 2025 by the Government strengthening and reforming the Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL). The appointment of independent members to the Ethics and Integrity Commission will continue to be subject to the Governance Code for Public Appointments and regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments, as has been the case with CSPL. As an Arm's Length Body of the Cabinet Office, appointments to the Ethics and Integrity Commission will be the responsibility of Cabinet Office Ministers.