Written questions by Dewhirst.

With reference to the Government's transparency data entitled Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for government’s most important contracts: Data for July to September 2025 for all departments, published on 25 December 2025, for what reason Tackling Economic Inequality is a Key Performance Indicator for the contract entitled NHSmail Collaboration Licensing Platform that is supplied by Accenture (UK) Limited.

The inclusion of Tackling Economic Inequality as a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) for NHS England’s NHSmail Collaboration Licensing Platform contract reflects the Government’s Social Value Model, introduced to ensure that public procurement delivers wider economic and social benefits alongside core contractual outcomes. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-policy-note-0620-taking-account-of-social-value-in-the-award-of-central-government-contractsAs for every procurement, NHS England selected the most appropriate Social Value Theme from those set out in the above guidance, based on the subject matter of the contract. In this case, Tackling Economic Inequality was chosen. This theme encompasses measures that promote economic opportunity, support skills and employment, and encourage innovation and productivity across supply chains.Each Social Value Theme in turn contains detailed Model Award Criteria, and for this contract NHS England applied:Innovation and Disruptive Technologies, to support innovation and disruptive technologies throughout the supply chain to deliver lower cost and/or higher quality goods and services; andModernising Delivery and Increasing Productivity, to support the development of scalable and future-proofed new methods to modernise delivery and increase productivity.The KPI was included to ensure those commitments are monitored transparently. This is consistent with the Government’s requirement to publish KPIs for its most important contracts, as part of strengthening accountability and transparency in public procurement.

Pursuant to the Answer of 3 December 2025 to Question 75027 on Military Aircraft: Ministers, how many of the 44 tasks were (a) domestic and (b) overseas.

It has been the practice of successive administrations not to publish granular information relating to the official movements of Ministers and those accompanying them within the United Kingdom. Information about official overseas Ministerial travel is published as part of the Cabinet Office transparency returns and made available on the GOV.UK website.

Whether (a) he and (b) his Permanent Secretary approved the use of paid facility time for trade union activities outlined in the 2024-25 departmental annual report and accounts.

The departmental Trade Union Facility Time Guidance sets out a provision for paid activity time to be requested and approved, by exception. This is managed/agreed locally by management from a day to day perspective. The overall levels of activity time are monitored by HR and any concerns are dealt with on behalf of the Secretary of State/Permanent Secretary.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 16 December 2025 to Question 98122, on Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Public Appointments, if she will list the annual remuneration of each of the current Direct Ministerial Appointments in post.

The names of special representatives, envoys and direct ministerial appointments are published on gov.uk at the time of their appointment.

Whether any of the members of the Clean Power 2030 Advisory Commission have made a declaration of political activity; and where their declarations of interest are published.

Members of the Clean Power 2030 Advisory Commission were asked to declare political activity during the application process and none were declared. We do not publish their conflicts of interest.

Pursuant to the answer of 16 December 2025 to Question 98794 on Mission Boards, who the internal and external members are of the Clean Energy Superpower Mission Board.

The Clean Energy Superpower Mission Board is chaired by the DESNZ Secretary of State, the Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP. The board does not have a fixed list of internal or external members, rather we engage with other government departments, external organisations and industry experts depending on the issues for discussion.

Pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2025 to Question 86060 on NHS: Recruitment, what guidance has been provided to NHS bodies on the (a) length and (b) type of criminal conviction that would prevent a person from being employed in the NHS under the Widening Access Demonstrator programme.

The Department commissions NHS Employers to issue employer guidance under the NHS Employment Check Standards, which includes the criminal record check requirements in the National Health Service in England. The standards direct employers in the NHS to use Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) guidance to understand which offences are disclosed or filtered, depending on age, sentence length, and offence type. The DBS applies statutory filtering rules to decide which convictions are shown on DBS certificates in England and Wales. DBS rules apply across all sectors for roles needing criminal record checks. Charities like Unlock and NACRO offer extra advice and guidance for individuals with criminal records and employers hiring them.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled New Ministry of Defence Permanent Secretary announced, published on 31 October 2025, whether the outgoing Permanent Secretary will receive any (a) exit and (b) severance payment.

It is anticipated that any severance payments received, would be published in the Ministry of Defence annual report and accounts for 2025 to 2026.

What is his policy on members of the Armed Forces (a) being members of single-sex private members’ clubs in a personal capacity and (b) participating in such clubs in a professional capacity.

Defence does not hold a specific central policy on individual membership of single-sex private members’ clubs. Participation with external organisations in a professional capacity is subject to formal approval through the Chain of Command.

With reference to the policy paper entitled Outcome of the exploratory discussions on the possible participation of the United Kingdom in the European Union’s internal electricity market, published on 22 December 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive on (a) consumers, (b) business and (c) the economy.

An electricity agreement with the EU will cut the cost of trading electricity with the EU - this means lower wholesale costs and ultimately lower bills. Any agreement will naturally involve a balance of rights and obligations to ensure a level playing field in the trade of electricity between the Parties.In line with the outcome of exploratory discussions, we will discuss the relevant rules on the promotion of renewables. The detail of commitments in this area, as with other areas, is a matter for negotiations.

Pursuant to the Answer of 17 December 2025 to Question 98107 on Department for Business and Trade: Public Appointments, whether any of those direct ministerial appointees have made a declaration of political activity.

Of the 30 direct ministerial appointees, 6 have declared political activity.Due diligence is conducted and individuals are required to complete a formal declaration of interests, in line with Cabinet Office guidance. These appointees deliver vital expertise to government and there is no bar to political activity for these roles.

With reference to paragraph 2.1.2 of her Department’s policy paper entitled UK Government Green Financing Framework, published on 26 November 2025, for what reason facilities intended for the production of weapons grade nuclear material or for other primarily military uses are excluded; and what assessment she has made with the Secretary of State for Defence of the potential impact of this exclusion on the level of private sector participation in the Trident renewal programme.

The Green Financing Framework, updated in 2025, explains how proceeds from green gilts and NS&I’s retail Green Savings Bonds will finance public expenditures that have the goal of delivering a direct and positive environmental impact. Eligible expenditures are assessed on the basis of their contribution to the government’s climate and environmental objectives. Military nuclear spending, including the Trident renewal programme, is primarily for national defence purposes and as such is not eligible to be financed under the Framework. This exclusion is in line with international norms for green bond frameworks and enables the UK’s green gilts to be accessible to the greatest possible pool of investors, improving value-for-money. The Green Financing Framework only applies to public expenditures and does not apply to private investment. Eligible expenditures are drawn from departments’ confirmed Spending Review settlements. There has been no rationale for HM Treasury and the Ministry of Defence to assess the potential impact on private sector participation in the Trident renewal programme.

Whether HMRC’s apps and website are accessible via the One Login system.

HMRC customers currently access digital services via the GOV.UK website or via the HMRC app by logging in with their Government Gateway credentials. HMRC will be transitioning its customers (individuals, agents and organisations) to GOV.UK One Login. Once HMRC customers have transitioned to GOV.UK One Login they will be able to access their digital HMRC services in the same way they currently do (via the GOV.UK website or the HMRC app) using their GOV.UK One Login credential instead of Government Gateway. More details on HMRC’s plans to transition to GOV.UK One Login can be found in HMRC’s Transformation Roadmap, published in July 2025: HMRC's Transformation Roadmap - GOV.UK

Pursuant to the answer of 2 December 2025, to Question 94022, on Katie Martin, what her salary and grade is in the new role.

The position is unpaid.

What methodology is used by HMRC to determine a “low”, “medium” or “high” probity risk rating in the honours vetting process.

HMRC’s role in the honours system is advisory and not decision making – it provides an advisory low, medium or high risk rating which is considered by the Honours Committees, alongside information from other departments, in their decision making. The probity risk rating is based on information held at the time of the check. HMRC does not disclose taxpayer details. The legal basis for disclosure of the rating is set out in published Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with other government departments (see https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-awards-and-appointments) and the criteria for determining ratings are set out at Annex C of the MOUs. Senior HMRC officials receive reports of nominee’s tax behaviour and apply the published Risk Rating Matrix in the MoU to arrive at a rating. HMRC has been providing advisory risk ratings under this framework since 2023.

If she will ask the Financial Conduct Authority to make an assessment of the adequacy of the (a) security and (b) stability of monies invested in the Tether cryptocurrency.

The government recognises that stablecoins stand to drive important innovation in payments and settlement, but like other financial instruments they also have the potential to cause consumer harm, especially if not properly regulated. That is why the UK has worked closed with international partners through the Financial Stability Board to develop global standards for cryptoassets and stablecoin. It is also why the government is creating a comprehensive UK regulatory regime under the Financial Conduct Authority for cryptoassets, including to regulate the issuance of stablecoin.

Which pension provider maintains the staff pension scheme for the National Energy System Operator; and whether staff are offered (a) defined benefit and (b) defined contribution pensions.

The employees of the National Energy System Operator (NESO) are not civil servants and are not part of civil service pension schemes. As noted in NESO’s latest annual report and accounts, Legal & General administer the company’s defined contribution pension scheme. There is a legacy defined benefit scheme, transferred as part of the acquisition by government, however this scheme is closed to new members/employees.

With reference to paragraph 9 of the document entitled Outcome of the exploratory discussions on the possible participation of the United Kingdom in the European Union’s internal electricity market, published on 22 December 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential of the environmental protection clause on costs for consumers.

An electricity agreement with the EU will cut the cost of trading electricity with the EU - this means lower wholesale costs and ultimately lower bills. Any agreement will naturally involve a balance of rights and obligations to ensure a level playing field in the trade of electricity between the Parties. The detail of environmental commitments in this agreement, as with other areas, is a matter for negotiations.

Whether the Autumn Budget 2025 made changes to efficiency savings required of departments in (a) 2025-26, (b) 2026-27 and (c) 2027-28.

No changes were made to efficiency targets in 2025-26, 2026-27 or 2027-28.

Further to the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for government’s most important contracts, Data for July to September 2025, published by Cabinet Office on 25 December 2025, for what reason the requirement to reduce dependency on advisory services based in the Global North is a key performance indicator in the contract with DAI Global UK.

This KPI relates to a contract with DAI Global UK for the delivery of an overseas development assistance (ODA) funded programme to strengthen institutional capacity in developing countries. The KPI aims to encourage delivery through downstream partners based in developing countries in order to build local leadership and expertise, reducing long-term reliance on UK aid. The headline contract was competitively tendered and awarded to a UK-based supplier.