Every parliamentary written question tabled by James Wild this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1–18 of 18 · Cabinet Office
What recent progress has been made in determining future use of 36 Whitehall.
The Government Property Agency has developed designs and is preparing an Outline Business Case in 2026 to refurbish 36 Whitehall as new government office accommodation.
With reference to the press release entitled, Hundreds of quangos to be examined for potential closure as Government takes back control, published on 7 April 2025, if he will provide an update on progress of the review and when it is expected to be completed.
The ALB Review, formally launched on 7th April 2025 is ongoing, its outcomes will be communicated in due course.
Pursuant to the Answer of 26 June 2025 to Question 61229 on Cabinet Office: Public Expenditure, how many lines of activity in his Department were considered as part of the zero based review.
At Spending Review 2025, the government conducted the first zero-based review (ZBR) of department budgets in 18 years, with every line of spending scrutinised to ensure value for money.To ensure consistency in approach, cross-government guidance set expectations for the level of granularity each review should consider, recommending that departments review all spending within individual programme expenditure – at a minimum reflecting any lines of spending in excess of £1m per annum.Savings identified through this process will support delivery of the government's commitment for all departments to deliver at least 5% savings and efficiencies by 2028-29.
When he plans to provide an answer to Question 82727 on National Security Adviser: China, tabled on 16 October 2025.
A response has been issued here.
Pursuant to his oral contribution of 13 October 2025, Official Report, column 67 which (a) minister and (b) civil servant gave the Deputy National Security Adviser full freedom to provide evidence without interference.
The decision that the Deputy National Security Advisor would give evidence was taken under the last Government in 2023.When this government came into office in 2024, the Deputy National Security Advisor was a witness in a criminal prosecution. That is why, as this Government has repeatedly stated, that no Ministers or special advisors have played any role in the provision of evidence.
Whether the former Deputy Prime Minister has received a Ministerial severance payment.
On 21 July 2025, this Government announced reforms to Ministerial severance pay to ensure severance payments are proportionate and fair. These changes came into effect from 13 October. Before this, decisions as to whether a Minister accepted a severance payment were for the outgoing minister, in line with the practice of previous administrations. Details of ministerial severance payments are published in the relevant department’s annual report and accounts.
Pursuant to the Answer of 17 June 2025 to Question 59412 on Government Departments: Reviews, if his Department will publish the line by line review of its spending conducted for the Spending Review 2025.
The Cabinet Office is committed to delivering the 5% savings and efficiency target, with Spending Review funding allocations agreed on this basis. These funding allocations – informed by the findings of the Zero Based Review – are the first step in a wider plan to finalise budgets for different projects and programmes, with any necessary savings decided through that process. The savings taken forward will be subject to the normal rigorous business planning processes, and in-year financial management.
With reference to the (a) UK-EU Summit - Joint Statement, updated 19 May 2025, (b) UK-EU Summit - Common Understanding, updated 19 May 2025 and (c) UK-EU security and defence partnership, published 19 May 2025, when measures relating to UK passport holders using EU eGates will be able to take effect.
The UK-EU Common Understanding confirms that there will be no legal barriers to eGate use for British Nationals traveling to and from EU Member States after the introduction of the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES). This is a positive step forward and we are now working quickly with Member States to get these arrangements in place and improve our citizens’ travel experience reducing lengthy and imbalanced queues at various entry points across the EU.
With reference to the (a) UK-EU Summit - Joint Statement, updated 19 May 2025, (b) UK-EU Summit - Common Understanding, updated 19 May 2025 and (c) UK-EU security and defence partnership, published 19 May 2025, what his planned timetable is to agree arrangements for UK participation in EU electricity trading platforms.
On 19 May, the Government published a renewed agenda for UK-EU cooperation. The Government agreed with the European Commission to proceed swiftly with the commitments and will keep Parliament updated on significant developments.
With reference to the (a) UK-EU Summit - Joint Statement, updated 19 May 2025, (b) UK-EU Summit - Common Understanding, updated 19 May 2025 and (c) UK-EU security and defence partnership, published 19 May 2025, what his planned timetable is to agree arrangements enabling information exchange between the UK and the EU Drugs Agency on drug-related threats.
On 19 May, the Government published a renewed agenda for UK-EU cooperation. The Government agreed with the European Commission to proceed swiftly with the commitments and will keep Parliament updated on significant developments.
With reference to the (a) UK-EU Summit - Joint Statement, updated 19 May 2025, (b) UK-EU Summit - Common Understanding, updated 19 May 2025 and (c) UK-EU security and defence partnership, published 19 May 2025, what his planned timetable is for discussions on arrangements to enable information exchange between the UK and the EU Drugs Agency.
On 19 May, the Government published a renewed agenda for UK-EU cooperation. The Government agreed with the European Commission to proceed swiftly with the commitments and will keep Parliament updated on significant developments.
With reference to the (a) UK-EU Summit - Joint Statement, updated 19 May 2025, (b) UK-EU Summit - Common Understanding, updated 19 May 2025 and (c) UK-EU security and defence partnership, published 19 May 2025, what his planned timetable is for discussions with (i) the EU and (ii) EU Member States on improving access arrangements for touring in Europe.
On 19 May, the Government published a renewed agenda for UK-EU cooperation. The Government agreed with the European Commission to proceed swiftly with the commitments and will keep Parliament updated on significant developments.
With reference to the (a) UK-EU Summit - Joint Statement, updated 19 May 2025, (b) UK-EU Summit - Common Understanding, updated 19 May 2025 and (c) UK-EU security and defence partnership, published 19 May 2025, what his planned timetable is for agreeing measures for increased exchange of criminal records for (i) third country and (ii) other nationals in the UK and EU.
On 19 May, the Government published a renewed agenda for UK-EU cooperation. The Government agreed with the European Commission to proceed swiftly with the commitments and will keep Parliament updated on significant developments.
With reference to his Department's publication entitled UK Covid-19 Inquiry Management Statement, published in August 2022, what steps he is taking to help ensure that the Covid-19 public inquiry represents value for money.
The UK Covid-19 Inquiry is an independent public inquiry, established by the previous administration.In line with the UK Covid-19 Management Statement, the Inquiry’s Accounting Officer must conform to value for money and good financial management requirements and must provide financial updates to the Cabinet Office as its sponsor department.The Chair is under a statutory obligation to avoid unnecessary costs in the Inquiry’s work and she has been clear that she intends to complete her work as quickly and efficiently as possible.
What plans his Department has for the use of 36 Whitehall.
36 Whitehall is a GPA freehold building currently unoccupied. Options for the future use of the building continue to be discussed as part of plans for the Government’s London office estate, with any final decisions being made as part of the ongoing Spending Review process.
How much has been spent on (a) maintenance and (b) refurbishment of 36 Whitehall in each of the last three years.
Whilst 36 Whitehall is currently unoccupied, the Government Property Agency (as owner of the freehold) has an obligation to maintain essential health and safety systems. Essential fire maintenance costs at 36 Whitehall totalled £5k in 2022-23, £3k in 2023-24 and £1.5k in 2024-25. In 2024-25, £362k was allocated to replace the fire alarm system as part of the GPA’s Lifecycle Replacement (LCR) programme, which replaces office assets that are at the end of their useful life. Costs related to professional fees for project management and design to develop a scheme to bring the building back into use totalled £661k in 22/23 and £763k in 23/24 with £0 in 24/25. Options for the future use of the building continue to be discussed as part of plans for the Government’s London office estate, with any final decisions being made as part of the ongoing Spending Review process.
What steps he is taking to reduce the (a) number and (b) administrative costs of arms length bodies.
The Prime Minister has commissioned departments to assess all current and proposed arms length bodies against new principles to determine which should continue, close, merge, or have functions returned to departments. This is part of the government's mission to create a more productive and agile state, as demonstrated by NHS England's integration into the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).Additionally, the Chancellor has initiated Phase 2 of the Spending Review, which will zero-base all public spending, including ALBs. This involves a detailed evaluation to assess priorities and value for money for taxpayers. Departments and ALBs are tasked with identifying a minimum of 5% savings against their day-to-day spending, building on the previous 2% target.
Whether flights made by (a) the Prime Minister and (b) other Ministers in the Royal Air Force's No. 32 Squadron are subject to Air Passenger Duty.
Air Passenger Duty (APD) is payable for travel undertaken on aircraft that are on the civilian register – it is not payable for aircraft on the military register. It is therefore payable for all ministerial travel undertaken on the RAF Envoy as that is currently on the civilian register.