Written questions by Dewhirst.

Innovation and Technology, 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.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answers of 6 September 2024 to Questions 2306 and 2308 on Ministers: Official Cars, which (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have (i) been allocated a dedicated vehicle and (ii) access to use of a shared vehicle from the Government Car Service; what the (A) make, (B) model and (C) fuel type is for each car; and what the budget was for those cars in the 2024-25 financial year.

The Government Car Service offers vehicles to Government departments as a shared resource. Each department independently determines the allocation of these vehicles to its ministerial cadre/officials, as under previous administrations. Defra is currently allocated two vehicles including allocated and shared vehicles. 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 Department Pool Car in 2024/25 financial year is £108K per annum.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 5 September 2024 to Question 2635 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Public Expenditure, what her policy is on (a) engagement with the organisations cited in the Written Ministerial Statement of 14 March 2024 on New Extremism Definition and Community Engagement Principles, HCWS342, and (b) and support for the (i) counter-extremism centre of excellence and (ii) Commission for Countering Extremism.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 5739 on 11 October 2024. This government takes the threat of extremism very seriously and we will continue to work with partners to tackle extremism in all of its forms. Following the conclusion of the rapid review ordered by the Home Secretary, we will be setting out our strategic approach to countering extremism, which will ensure that we have the strongest possible response.

Pursuant to the Answers of 6 September 2024 to Questions 2306 and 2308 on Ministers: Official Cars, which (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have (i) been allocated a dedicated vehicle and (ii) access to use of a shared vehicle from the Government Car Service; what the (A) make, (B) model and (C) 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 to its Ministerial cadre/officials, as under previous administrations. The Ministry of Defence is currently allocated 18 vehicles including allocated and shared vehicles. 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 Department Pool Car in 2024-25 financial year is £108,000 per annum.

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 and (ii) NHS England 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 offers vehicles to Government departments as a shared resource. Each Department independently determines the allocation of these vehicles to its ministerial cadre/officials, as under previous administrations. The Department is currently allocated three vehicles including allocated and shared vehicles.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 Department Pool Car in 2024/25 financial year is £108,000 per annum.

What her 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.

Food and Rural Affairs, 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 GCS are set out in the Civil Service Management Code. There has been no change in this policy since the general election.

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.

Communities and Local Government, Pursuant to the answer of 5 September 2024 to Question 2635 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Public Expenditure, what the policy reasons were for cancelling the Investment Opportunity Fund and the associated support for private investment in Investment Zones and Freeports cancelled.

Economic growth is the number one mission of this government. The government has committed to delivering productivity growth in every part of the country, making everyone, not just a few, better off. As part of this, government will work in partnership with local leaders to develop ambitious, long-term Local Growth Plans reflecting their local strengths and opportunities to support the national growth mission and new Industrial Strategy.Immediate action to fix the foundations of the economy is the only way to rebuild Britain and make every person and every part of the country better off. We are being honest about those schemes that we cannot afford to deliver so that we can fix the foundations of our economy, drive domestic growth and pool investment into the country by addressing spending pressures and repairing the public finances.The Investment Opportunity Fund, which was launched at Autumn Statement 2023, had yet to provide support to any projects.

Pursuant to the Answer of 6 September 2024 to Question 2631 on Civil Service: Pay, what estimate she has made of the potential cost of the civil service pay award for 2024-25 (a) in total and (b) for senior civil service staff; and whether she has had discussions with the Office for Budget responsibility on the estimated cost of that pay award.

Pay for civil servants outside of the Senior Civil Service is not set centrally; rather, departments and bodies have freedom to make decisions on pay within the parameters of the Pay Remit Guidance published annually by the Cabinet Office. The Pay Remit Guidance for 2024/5 can be found using the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-pay-remit-guidance-2024-to-2025/civil-service-pay-remit-guidance-2024-to-2025 The Pay Remit Guidance sets a percentage maximum by which bodies can increase their average paybill. Each department will need to consider how they intend to apply the award to their workforce, before implementing it. The final cost of the civil service pay award for 2024/25 will not be confirmed until this is concluded. Senior Civil Service pay is set on the basis of recommendations from the Senior Salaries Review Body, one of the Pay Review Bodies (PRB) which make recommendations on pay for many public sector workforces. The 2024-25 pay awards for PRB workforces, alongside a 5% maximum average award to the delegated Civil Service grades create an estimated further pressure of around £9 billion in 2024-25, on top of what the last government set aside for pay. These 2024/25 pay announcements do not represent a change to the funding allocated to departments or to borrowing plans. Nonetheless, the Government’s full fiscal plans will be set out at the upcoming Budget and Spending Review on 30th October, accompanied by the OBR’s Economic and Fiscal Outlook.

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.

Pursuant to the Answer of 6 September 2024, to Question 2627, on Public Sector: Pay, what estimate (a) her Department and (b) the Office for Budget Responsibility have made of the limited increase in (i) inflation and (b) wage expectations from the public sector pay rises.

HM Treasury have assessed the impact of the public sector pay rises announced at the Chancellor’s July Statement on inflation and wage expectations to be negligible given they were broadly in line with private sector wage growth, at the time of the announcement. The OBR will take into account any impact from all government policy announcements on the UK’s economic and fiscal outlook in their next forecast. This will be available in their Economic and Fiscal Outlook report which will be published on the 30th October, alongside the Autumn Budget.

Pursuant to the answer of 6 September 2024 to Question 2637 on Office for Value for Money, what plans she has for targeted interventions; and what estimate she has made of operating cost of the office in its first full year of operation.

As a new venture, the Office is developing its workplan and will make more information public as it develops.The Office for Value for Money is currently a part of HM Treasury. Existing departmental resources will be reprioritised to fulfil the needs of the office where possible.

Communities and Local Government, Pursuant to the answer of 5 September 2024 to Question 2635 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Public Expenditure, whether she has discontinued the New definition of extremism programme announced in March 2024; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the £5 million saving on government (a) policy on counter-extremism and integration and (b) due diligence.

I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN HL965 on 20 September 2024. This Government takes the threat of extremism very seriously and we will continue to work with partners to tackle extremism in all its forms. Following the conclusion of the rapid review ordered by the Home Secretary, we will be setting out our strategic approach, which will ensure that we have the strongest possible response.

Pursuant to the answer of 2 September 2024 to Question 2636 on NHS England: Communication and Management Consultants, what is the monetary value of the communications and engagement lot for consultancy and advisory services framework run by NHS Shared Business Services, announced on 20 August 2024.

Lot four of the Consultancy and Advisory Services framework agreement for communications, engagement, and research services, managed by NHS Shared Business Services and announced on 20 August 2024, has an estimated value of £45 million, which is the maximum amount expected to be spent against this lot. The framework is available for use by the National Health Service and all United Kingdom public sector bodies outside of the NHS.

With reference to the Government Finance Function guidance on the Government Efficiency Framework, published in July 2023, whether she is taking steps to ensure consistency in departmental interpretation of (a) technical and (b) allocative efficiencies.

The Government Efficiency Framework, published in July 2023, sets out what an efficiency is and how it should be categorised, including the difference between technical and allocative efficiencies. It states that an efficiency should not mean deferring costs to future years or be a reduction in costs with the intention to achieve less. HM Treasury has been clear that these definitions apply to all government departments. Accounting Officers are expected to oversee the application of the definitions and monitoring of efficiencies. This includes having an appropriate internal assurance process. As per the government response to the recommendations from the PAC report entitled “Cabinet Office functional savings”, HM Treasury will set out further detail on its approach to providing assurances on the use of GEF definitions in due course.

Whether provisions are in place for the independent audit of efficiency savings reported by departments in line with the Government Efficiency Framework to ensure that non-cash-releasing savings are not used as a method to (a) defer costs to future years and (b) reduce essential services.

The Government Efficiency Framework, published in July 2023, sets out what an efficiency is and how it should be categorised, including the difference between technical and allocative efficiencies. It states that an efficiency should not mean deferring costs to future years or be a reduction in costs with the intention to achieve less. HM Treasury has been clear that these definitions apply to all government departments. Accounting Officers are expected to oversee the application of the definitions and monitoring of efficiencies. This includes having an appropriate internal assurance process. As per the government response to the recommendations from the PAC report entitled “Cabinet Office functional savings”, HM Treasury will set out further detail on its approach to providing assurances on the use of GEF definitions in due course.

Pursuant to the Answer of 4 September 2024, to Question 2625, on Prime Minister: Public Expenditure, what the monetary value is of the 2% administrative savings that each individual government department and public body will be expected to make; and in which financial years those savings will fall.

As part of the tough measures the Chancellor is taking to address the £22bn inheritance, departments were asked to reduce their admin budgets by 2%, saving £225 million across departments. 2024-25 administration budgets are set out in 2024 Public Expenditure Statistical Analysis (PESA).

Communities and Local Government, Pursuant to the answer of 5 September 2024, to Question 2635, on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Public Expenditure, what interventions she plans to introduce to reduce incidents of anti-social behaviour.

Tackling anti-social behaviour is a top priority for this Government, and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission. We understand that anti-social behaviour causes great harm and misery to our communities, and, if left unchecked, can lead to more serious offending.The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is working closely with the Home Office and the Safer Streets Mission to tackle anti-social behaviour in all communities.We will put thousands of neighbourhood police and community support officers back into local communities, so that residents have somewhere to turn to when things go wrong.We will crack down on the adults making neighbourhoods feel unsafe and unwelcoming by introducing new powers, such as Respect Orders with tough sanctions and penalties, to tackle repeat offending.The Deputy Prime Minister is also overseeing cross-Government work to consider how we support our communities and address issues of cohesion in the longer term.