Written questions by Dewhirst.

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 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.

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.

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.

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 9 October 2024 to Question 5282, on Senior Civil Servants: Pay, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing performance related incentives in the junior civil service.

Individual Government Departments have delegated authority to determine pay, including performance related incentives, for their workforce, excluding Senior Civil Servants, subject to the parameters of the Civil Service Pay Remit Guidance. Currently, non-consolidated performance payments are already in place across many departments. The Government recently announced new measures for performance-related pay for the Senior Civil Service.

Through which mechanisms non-ministerial departments are accountable to Parliament.

A non-ministerial department (NMD) is a government department, but one that does not have its own minister. An individual NMD is accountable to Parliament through its sponsoring ministers, and the NMD Permanent Secretary, who is the accounting officer. Non-ministerial departments have their own budgets, and are required to produce annual reports and accounts, which can be examined by Parliament.

Pursuant to the Answers of (a) 12 February 2025 to Question 28577 and (b) 16 January 2025 to Question 21390 on Armed Forces: Equality, whether the work on the Armed Forces’ EDI review was led or undertaken by his Department.

The Cabinet Office has not carried out a review of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) expenditure for the Armed Forces. The Civil Service EDI Expenditure Review, which was carried out under the previous administration between June 2023 and May 2024, included EDI expenditure relating solely to civil servants, including those who may have been undertaking work on behalf of the Armed Forces, but not in relation to Armed Forces personnel.

Which divisions in his Department hold information on (a) the number of software licences his Department has paid for and (b) usage of those software licences.

Cabinet Office Digital is responsible for the number of software licenses purchased.Cabinet Office Digital uses a range of tools to monitor and manage these software licenses.

With reference to the Answer of 24 February 2025 to Question HL4627, on 9 Downing Street: Media, for what reasons the media room in 9 Downing Street was refurbished.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 21 January 2025, Official Report, PQ 25454.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Secret Intelligence Service is a paid member of Stonewall.

The Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) is a paid member of Stonewall.

On what dates the Prime Minister’s Office has held conference calls with public affairs companies; and if he will list each organisation that attended each one.

I refer the Hon Member to my answer of 17 March 2025, Official Report, PQ 37798.

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, how many Government Procurement Cards are held by each (a) Ministerial and (b) senior official private office in his Department.

The Cabinet Office has one cardholder in Ministerial Private Offices and six cardholders in senior official private offices.

What the difference is between (a) government diversity networks and (b) trade union diversity networks in government.

Government Equality, Diversity and Inclusion networks are internal, volunteer staff networks that work to improve internal culture and workforce representation. Trade unions are separate distinct organisations, who may have their own separate diversity networks for their members.

With reference to his Department's Civil Service HQ occupancy data transparency data, last updated on 28 February 2025, which changes in reporting methodology lead to a revision of the figures.

The revision of figures applied to the Home Office occupancy stats only. This was because of a change in reporting by the Home Office.

Whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of reinstating awards of honours under the Order of St Patrick.

The Most Illustrious Order of Saint Patrick is in the personal gift of The Sovereign. The UK Government is not considering the restoration of The Order of St Patrick. Nominations for existing honours are open to all citizens within the four nations of the United Kingdom.

If he will update the (a) ministerial, (b) special adviser and (c) senior official transparency guidance on the definition of senior media executives to include large social media organisations.

Details of ministers’ and senior officials’ official meetings with all external individuals and organisations, including with social media organisations, are already published on a quarterly basis. Under long-standing guidance, special advisers are only required to declare meetings with senior media figures. There are no current plans to change the guidance.

Whether emails in Downing Street inboxes are automatically deleted.

All emails generated, or received, in the Prime Minister’s Office, including any attachments, may be public records and therefore are subject to records management policies and procedures. The fact that they may be public records does not mean that all emails will be kept for ever. Most will be archived in accordance with standard record keeping procedures. If it is decided that an email needs to be kept for more than a very short period it is placed on the official record keeping system.

Whether the Prime Minister met organisations at Labour Party Conference 2024 which required him to report back the discussions to his private office.

Any ministerial meetings with external organisations will be published in the usual way on gov.uk. There are processes in place where Ministers are officially supported at political events or engagements, as was the case under the previous administration.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the National Security Adviser being appointed as a special adviser on (a) the effectiveness and (b) parliamentary scrutiny of that role.

Special Advisers are accountable to Ministers who in turn are accountable to Parliament.