Written questions by Glen.

With reference Answer of 26 September 2024 to Question HL978 on Ministers: Members' Interests, whether declarations made by Ministers to the House of Commons or House of Lords register of Members’ interests constitute a Ministerial declaration under the Ministerial Code.

The ministers’ interests process, which is set out in the Ministerial Code, is distinct from the parliamentary regimes that exist for Members of the House of Commons and House of Lords to register interests as parliamentarians. All ministers must comply with both the Ministerial Code and the Codes of Conduct of their respective House.

Which categories of (a) individual and (b) organisation are eligible to join the Civil Service Pension Scheme.

The answers to the questions raised are available in the public domain and can be found on the member and employer sections of the Civil Service Pension website and also the UK Government Legislation website.

Pursuant to the Answer of 16 September 2024 to Question 5052 on Government Departments: Disclosure of Information and with reference to the when he plans to start to publish (a) transparency data for (i) Ministers, (ii) special advisers and (iii) senior officials and (b) the list of Ministerial interests on a monthly schedule.

Transparency reporting requirements remain in place, with data regularly being published on GOV.UK.I refer the Right Honourable Member to the debate in the House on Reporting Ministerial Gifts and Hospitality, debated on Monday 14 October 2024. The Government will set out further details in due course.The List of Ministers’ Interests is published twice yearly.

How many evaluations relating to Government policies, projects or programmes have been exempted from publication due to national security concerns in the last 12 months; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure adequate levels of public accountability of (a) high-risk and (b) high-cost projects.

Departments are responsible for making determinations about whether evaluation plans and findings should be withheld from publication on the grounds that publication would threaten national security. In cases where departments determine that evaluation plans or reports should not be published because the contents fall under any exemption outlined in the Freedom of Information Act, the Evaluation Registry guidance states that departments should make this clear in writing to the Evaluation Task Force (Cabinet Office). Exemptions include but are not limited to national security. Since April 2024 -- when the use of the Evaluation Registry was made mandatory for government departments -- the Evaluation Task Force has been notified of one evaluation which has not been added to the Evaluation Registry on the grounds that it meets an exemption outlined in the Act. Further guidance on publication exemptions is available online on the 'Guidance on using the Evaluation Registry' webpage.

Pursuant to the Answer of 31 July 2024 to Question 1214 on Ministers: Official Residences, whether the Prime Minister has allocated the remaining official residences.

The following official residences have been allocated by the Prime Minister since the Answer of 31 July 2024 to Question 1214: Chequers, Chevening, Dorneywood, Hillsborough Castle, 1 Carlton Gardens; and a flat in Admiralty House on a time limited basis.

How many people will be subject to an annual allowance tax charge due to the retrospective application of the McCloud remedy on Civil Service pensions.

It is not possible for the Cabinet Office to determine which members are subject to a tax charge. This will depend on their personal circumstances and in particular the total pension contributions (including other pension schemes they might contribute to) and their total income, which Cabinet Office would not necessarily know about.

Pursuant to the Answer of 12 September 2024 to Question 4654 on public sector: trade unions, what is the current practice of government Departments on check-off; and how many Departments (a) charge trade unions for levying check-off and (b) have cancelled check-off arrangements.

The Cabinet Office does not collect or hold information on check-off arrangements in place in each Department.

Whether the Special Adviser Remuneration Committee has met since 4 July 2024.

I refer the RH member to PQ7440. The Special Adviser People Board has met and will continue to meet as required.

Pursuant to the Answer of 16 September 2024 to Question 4649 on Members: Correspondence, and with reference to the letter from the Cabinet Secretary to the Rt hon. Member for Salisbury, dated 12 September 2024, if he will place a copy of the induction training guidance for special advisers referenced in that letter in the House of Commons Library.

There are no plans to place a copy of induction training guidance into the House of Commons Library.

What guidance his Department issues to (a) press officers and (b) special advisers on briefing correspondence to the media.

Guidance to civil service press officers on how they should deliver their role can be found here: https://gcs.civilservice.gov.uk/guidance/media/.The Code of Conduct for Special Advisers includes provisions on contact with the media for Special Advisers and can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5d834869e5274a2036a24e0d/201612_Code_of_Conduct_for_Special_Advisers.pdf.The guidance has remained the same since the Right Honourable Member was a Minister in the department.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2024 to Question 4258 on Treasury: public appointments, what the recruitment principles exception was for each appointment made by exception to her Department since 30 May 2024.

Since 30 May 2024, the following appointments by exception have been made: Exception 1 (Temporary Appointments) – 22 appointments. The grades of these appointments are Student, Senior Executive Officer, Grade 7, and SCS2. Exception 3 (Secondments) – 8 appointments. The grades of these appointments are Higher Executive Officer, Senior Executive Officer, Grade 7 and SCS1. Exception 10 (Conversion to permanency for those appointed under Exception 1 or 2) – Fewer than 5 appointments. Where the number of individuals covered is fewer than 5, we consider that to provide an exact figure would constitute the disclosure of personal data. The ‘Student’ grade is used for staff appointed to short term roles via cross Civil Service internship schemes.

Pursuant to the answer of 9 September 2024 to Question 2628 on Government departments: communication and public consultation, what data her Department holds on (a) government and (b) departmental spending on communications and marketing.

HMT does not hold data on all government spending on communications and marketing. However, communications and marketing spend above £100,000 is subject to central spending control and, as such, is published by each government department alongside other spend control data on a quarterly basis on gov.uk. This can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/search/all?keywords=spend+control+data&order=relevance. The Public Spending Audit, announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in July 2024, set a target for finding £50m savings in both 2024-25 and 2025-26 by stopping non-essential spending on communications. The Government will provide an update on the delivery of these commitments at the Budget.

For what reason it is the Government's to lift the Civil Service headcount cap that had been announced by the previous administration; and if she will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of this policy.

This government moved away from capping civil service headcount to an approach that ensures departments consider overall value for money in resourcing decisions.To this end it has introduced of a 2% target for reduction to administration budgets in financial years 2024-25 and 2025-26 and a stop to all non-essential spending on consultancy, with an aim to halve spending in future years. This government has also committed to developing a long-term strategic plan for a more efficient and effective civil service, including bold options to improve skills, harness digital technology and drive better outcomes for public services.Decisions relating to the cost of the civil service workforce will be considered as part of the Spending Review process. HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office will work closely with departments to develop plans that achieve the government’s reform objectives for the civil service.

Whether the Mission Delivery Boards are classified as cabinet sub-committees; and how often they will meet.

It is a long-established precedent that information about the discussions that have taken place in Cabinet and its committees - including mission boards - is not normally shared publicly.

Pursuant to the answer of 16 September 2024 to Question 4698 on Civil Servants: Temporary Employment, what steps the Government is taking to reduce reliance on contingent labour; and what guidance his Department has issued.

I refer the Honourable Gentleman to his previous question of September 9th of this year, the details of which remain the same. Further information will be announced in due course.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 September 2024 to Question 2323 on Cabinet Office: Flags and with reference to the guidance entitled Union Flag flying guidance for UK government buildings, updated on 5 February 2024, if he will publish a schedule of any other flags to be flown on (a) 70 Whitehall and (b) 10 Downing Street in the next 12 months; and whether he plans to continue to fly the Ukraine flag.

I have nothing further to add to the response to PQ 2323.

Pursuant to the Answer of 16 September 2024 to Question 4683 on Civil Service: Equality, what the average salary is of civil servants in the (a) Government Equalities Office and (b) his Department working in roles relating to diversity, equality and inclusion.

Cabinet Office does not routinely collate information on specific words within job titles and collating this information would come at a disproportionate cost.

Pursuant to the Answer of 17 September 2024 to Question 4682 on Prime Minister: Special Advisers, which public authority under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 holds information on the Cash Equivalent Transfer Value of the civil service pension of the Prime Minister’s former Chief of Staff.

I refer the Right Hon. member to my previous answer of 17 September 2024, Official report, 4682. The Cash Equivalent Transfer Value of an individual's civil service pension is a matter for the scheme administrator, MyCSP.

Pursuant to the Answer of 17 September 2024 to Question 4655 on Public Sector: Directors, if he will list those Non-Executive Directors by Department.

Pursuant to the Answer of 17 September 2024 to Question 4655 on Public Sector, details of Non-Executive Directors who have left government departments are published in the relevant Annual Report and Accounts for the respective department and can be found on gov.uk.

Whether the Office for National Statistics (a) has a role in and (b) has made representations to Government on the public sector classification of (i) Hinkley Point C and (ii) Wylfa.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Rt. Hon. Gentleman Question of 15/10/2024 is attached.