Written questions by Glen.

If he will publish the (a) terms of reference and (b) rules of procedure for the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations, and Medals.

I refer the Right Hon. Member to the answer of 10 October 2024, Official Report, PQ 7430.

How many receptions have taken place in Downing Street since the general election which were (a) funded by the taxpayer and (b) funded through political donations.

As under previous Governments, party political receptions are not a matter for the Government. Details of official receptions are published in quarterly transparency returns on gov.uk.

Whether the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments considers direct ministerial appointments from the civil service.

The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA) provides advice on applications from former ministers and the most senior Crown servants taking up appointments or employment outside of government. As was the case under the previous administration when the Rt Honourable member was a Minister in the Cabinet Office, direct ministerial appointments are not roles outside of government, and do not require an application under the Business Appointment Rules.

What recent guidance the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments has provided to special envoys on lobbying.

The Business Rules apply to Ministers and Crown servants. The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA) provides advice on applications for advice from Crown servants of grade SCS3 and above, and former ministers. Special envoys are made via a direct ministerial appointment and are not ministerial or civil service roles.

Whether his Department plans to make a submission to the Civil Service Commission review of appointments made by exception at delegated grades.

The Cabinet Office has provided the information requested by the Civil Service Commission regarding their review of appointments made by exception at delegated grades.

Pursuant to the Answer of 31 October 2024 to Question 10967 on Government Departments: Disclosure of Information, if he will outline (a) potential changes to the scope, manner and frequency of Ministerial reporting and (b) the extent to which those changes differ from the previous Government's commitments set out in his Department's policy paper entitled Strengthening Ethics and Integrity in Central Government, published in July 2023.

This Government will introduce a register for ministers’ gifts and hospitality bringing publication of ministerial transparency data on a broadly equivalent basis to the parliamentary register.This Government is fully committed to transparency and openness, and is committed to looking at how the range of information published can be improved and made as useful as possible.

With reference to table 5 of the National Security and Investment Act 2021: Annual Report 2023-24, published on 10 September 2024, for what reason each of the withdrawals from a called in acquisition withdrew; and whether he plans to ask companies to withdraw rather than proceeding with formal intervention.

There is no requirement for parties to inform the Government before they withdraw from acquisitions or to tell the Government the reasons behind the withdrawal.Parties might withdraw from deals for a variety of reasons, including reasons unrelated to the National Security and Investment (NSI) Act.All acquisitions are considered on a case-by-case basis.

With reference to the Answer of 15 January 2024 to Question 7805 on Ministers: Members' Interests, what the budget is for the development of the single platform for transparency data; and which organisation has been tasked with developing the platform.

This Government is committed to looking at how the range of information published can be improved and made as useful as possible.This Government will introduce a register for ministers’ gifts and hospitality bringing publication of ministerial transparency data on a broadly equivalent basis to the parliamentary register.

With reference to his Cabinet Office’s Government Procurement Card spend over £500 - July 2024, what the purpose was of the payments to (a) the Cookie Jar on 8 July 2024 and (b) Borgo Egnazia 6 on 17 July 2024.

The payment on 08 July to the Cookie Jar was for the accommodation cost of the former Deputy Prime Minister to attend the launch of the National Risk Register in Northumberland, in August 2023. The payment made on 17 July 2024 to Borgo Egnazia was accommodation costs for the former Prime Minister’s attendance at the G7 summit, which was held on 13-15 June 2024.

With reference to the Civil Service Fast Stream Recruitment Data 2024 published on 27 September 2024, for what reason the diversity data is collected by gender rather than sex.

The Fast Stream has reported on gender for over a decade, including when the Rt Hon member was a Minister in this department under the previous administration.We keep reporting methods under review to ensure that we align with best practices on statistical analysis and reporting.

Whether he the Government has plans to reduce the use of non-scheduled flights by Ministers.

Ministerial travel is undertaken using efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements. Security considerations are also taken into account. Travel plans will always vary and are decided with consideration of the best use of a Minister’s time and in the interests of the taxpayer. As was the practice under the previous Government, information about official overseas ministerial travel will be published as part of the Cabinet Office transparency returns and made available on the GOV.UK website.

With reference to his Department's publication entitled National Security and Investment Act 2021: Annual Report 2023-24, published on 10 September 2024, for what reason there was the reduction in the average time taken to issue a final order under the National Security and Investment Act from 81 statutory working days to 34 statutory working days.

The time taken to issue a final order for each called in acquisition will depend on the facts of the case. Given the small number of final orders (five) issued in this reporting period (1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024), no conclusions should be drawn about any trends in the time taken between calling in an acquisition and issuing a final order. It is worth noting that with only two years’ worth of data, and each acquisition assessed on its own merits, the Government expects to see some variation in the majority of statistics from year to year.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of issuing guidance on (a) accepting and (b) declaring (i) donations in kind, (ii) gifts and (iii) sponsorship of retail goods or services by commercial organisations by Ministers' partners.

The new Ministerial Code sets out the guiding principles ministers should consider when offered any gift, hospitality or service. These principles also apply to their family members. The new Ministerial Code also sets out details of a new Register of Ministers' Gifts and Hospitality, which brings the publication of ministerial transparency data more closely into line with the parliamentary regime for gifts and hospitality. Gifts, hospitality or services given to ministers in their capacity as constituency MPs or members of a political party fall within the rules relating to the Registers of Members’ and Lords’ Interests.

With reference to the Written Statement of 14 May 2024 on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the Civil Service, HCWS464, and pursuant to the Answers of 19 September 2024 to Question 5049 and of 16 September 2024 to Question 4679, on Civil Service: Equality, what progress he has made on ending standalone EDI roles outside of HR.

The Civil Service Equality Diversity and Inclusion Expenditure Guidance published on 14 May, remains in place.

If the Prime Minister will re-install the customer experience machines at 10 Downing Street.

No.

Who has line management responsibility for the Envoy for the Nations and Regions.

There is no further information to that given in my Named Day Written Answer on 16 October (PQ 8163).

Whether his Department has conducted a Civil Service people survey since 4 July 2024.

The Cabinet Office ran a Civil Service wide people survey from 10 September to 8 October 2024.

How many senior civil servants in the Prime Minister's office have (a) left and (b)announced their intention to leave since 4 July 2024.

3 Senior Civil Servants have left the Prime Minister’s Office since 4th July 2024.

Pursuant to the Answer of 27 September 2024 to Question 5039 on Special Advisers: Business Interests, if he will publish that register before 19 December 2024.

I refer the Right Honourable member to the previous answer.

Pursuant to the Answer of 2 September 2024 to Question 2060 on Ministers: Conduct, what steps the Prime Minister is taking to ensure that paragraph 9.1 is followed by all Departments.

The Prime Minister published the new Ministerial Code on 6 November. The Code sets out the standards of conduct that all ministers are expected to uphold.