Written questions by Glen.

How many civil servants, other than special advisers, have been appointed in his department without open competition since 4 July 2024; what their (a) job titles and (b) salary bands are; and on what basis each was appointed.

The Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 sets out the requirement for the Civil Service Commission to establish recruitment principles which departments must follow. The Recruitment Principles 2018 provide the legal requirement for the selection of appointments to the Civil Service to be made on merit and on the basis of fair and open competition. In addition, under section 12 of this act, it allows for exceptions to these principles.Appointments by exception are an important part of how we bring talent and expertise into the Civil Service. These routes are long established and have been used properly and extensively by all modern administrations to bring in individuals with relevant experience and skills for a time-limited basis.In the latest year across the civil service for which data is available, the year ending March 2023, approximately 80,000 people were hired through open competitions and approximately 9,000 people were hired through the different exception routes. Full details are available at the following link:https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/15.101_CSC_ARA-2022-23_FINAL_WEB.pdfIn the period from the 4 July 2024 to 6 October 2024, the Department made 29 new appointments by exception to the recruitment principles. In line with our policy and data protection obligations, we are unable to confirm the job titles of those appointed at delegated grades, however we have provided the relevant pay bands and the exception used.It should be noted that in the case of appointments by exception from senior civil servants at or above Payband 2, the Civil Service Commission publishes this information on a yearly basis, at the start of the financial year. Further information is available at the following link:https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/publications/pb2-recruitmentexceptions/The following table shows the number of appointments, as well as the pay band of the appointments:Number of appointmentsPay Band4Senior Civil Servant25Delegated Grades from Grade 6 to Administrative Officer4G66G72Senior Executive Officer7Higher Executive Officer6Executive OfficerNote: job titles include Director General of the 10-Year Health Plan, Regional Director, Clinical Advisor to the Alcohol and Drugs Treatment and Recovery Team, Leading on Medical Interventions, Clinical Advisor to the Alcohol and Drugs Treatment and Recovery Team, and Leading on Psychosocial Interventions.The following table shows the number of appointments made via exemption routes, broken down by the type of exemption route:Number of appointmentsException6Exception 1 temporary appointments22Exception 3 secondments1Exception 5 former civil servants

Pursuant to the Answer of 6 September 2024 to Question 2316 on Equality, if she will publish guidance on the application of the socio-economic duty on (a) Civil Service recruitment (i) decisions and (ii) policy and (b) public appointments.

The duty will require public bodies, when making strategic decisions, to actively consider how their decisions might help to reduce the inequalities associated with socio-economic disadvantage. Guidance will be developed that will help relevant authorities comply with the duty once commenced. We will be updating Parliament on this in due course.

What information his Department holds on the number of people that have been appointed to posts in her Department, other than special advisers, who have (a) worked for and (b) been seconded to (i) the Labour party and (ii) the office of a Labour hon. Member since 4 July 2024.

The Ministry of Justice does not hold the requested information in a central location. HR policies outline the Ministry of Justice’s stance on political activity, with declaration requirements varying by grade.

How many (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers are report directly to the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer given on Civil Servants supporting the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff, Official Report PQ 5307

What (a) envoys, (b) czars, (c) champions and (d) unpaid advisers have been appointed since 4 July 2024; which people in such roles appointed by the last Administration have been dismissed; and what positions and roles established by the last Administration have been discontinued.

Information on the direct ministerial appointments made, or retained, across government by individual departments is not held centrally by the Cabinet Office.

What guidance is provided to (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) No.10 political advisers on (i) avoiding conflicts of interest and (ii) the Nolan principles in respect of potential (A) family members and (B) partners who (1) work in the Civil Service or (2) are members of either House.

In line with the Declaration of Interests Policy for special advisers, interests must be declared to their Permanent Secretary in the appointing department for consideration. Steps are then taken to ensure no conflict of interest or mitigate any potential conflict to the satisfaction of the relevant Permanent Secretary. Special advisers’ declarations are expected to cover interests of their close family which might be thought to give rise to a conflict. As set out in the Ministerial Code, there is an established process in place for the declaration and management of ministers’ private interests, which ensures that steps are taken to avoid or mitigate any actual or perceived conflicts of interest. Ministers’ declarations are expected to cover interests of their spouse or partner and close family which might be thought to give rise to a conflict.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what (a) direct ministerial and (b) other public appointments to his Department and associated bodies have (i) been (A) removed from their posts and (B) asked to resign and (ii) made since 4 July 2024.

Part (i)The FCDO does not routinely record and collect the reasons why appointees leave their positions, so is not in a position to answer this part of the question. Additionally, the reasons why an appointee has left their role is the appointee's personal information and identifiable and would elicit GDPR considerations.Part (ii)The FCDO routinely announces public appointments and direct ministerial appointments on gov.uk. Since 4 July 2024, the following appointments have been made and announced:1. Jonathan Powell has been appointed by the Foreign Secretary as the Special Envoy for BIOT negotiations. [https://www.gov.uk/government/news/jonathan-powell-appointed-as-special-envoy-for-biot-negotiations]2. Rachel Kyte has been appointed the UK's Special Representative for Climate. This appointment was made jointly by the Foreign Secretary and the Energy Secretary. [https://www.gov.uk/government/news/rachel-kyte-appointed-as-the-uks-special-representative-for-climate]3. Professor Ngaire Woods has been appointed by the Foreign Secretary to lead a review of the UK's global impact. [https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-secretary-launches-expert-reviews-to-strengthen-uks-global-impact-and-expertise]4. Baroness Minouche Shafik has been appointed by the Foreign Secretary to lead a review on how to maximise the benefits of the FCDO joint integrated development diplomacy model in our development work. [https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-secretary-launches-expert-reviews-to-strengthen-uks-global-impact-and-expertise]5. Sir Martin Donnelly has been appointed by the Foreign Secretary to lead a review on our economic capability in diplomacy. [https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-secretary-launches-expert-reviews-to-strengthen-uks-global-impact-and-expertise]

What (a) direct ministerial and (b) other public appointments to her Department and associated bodies have (i) been (A) removed from their posts and (B) asked to resign and (ii) made since 4 July 2024.

No Direct Ministerial Appointments or other Public Appointments to the Department for Transport and associated bodies (Public Bodies) have been removed from their posts or asked to resign since 4 July 2024. The following appointments have been announced since 4 July 2024:Direct Ministerial AppointmentsShadow Great British Railways, Chair.Public AppointmentsOffice of the Traffic Commissioners, Traffic Commissioner North-WestNetwork Rail (NR), Acting Chair.

Communities and Local Government, what (a) direct ministerial and (b) other public appointments to her Department and associated bodies have (i) been (A) removed from their posts and (B) asked to resign and (ii) made since 4 July 2024.

Since 4 July 2024, 4 public appointees to the Department and associated bodies have left their posts. 10 direct ministerial appointments have been made (to the New Towns Taskforce).

Whether the Prime Minister is taking steps to reduce his carbon footprint during official duties.

Ministerial travel is undertaken using efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements. Security considerations are also taken into account. It has been the practice that official Prime Ministerial flights are carbon offset where that is possible.

If the Prime Minister will respond to the correspondence of 7 June 2024 from the FDA to him and the former Prime Minister on opposition costings.

A response has been issued.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of employing the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff as a civil servant.

The Prime Minister has approved the appointment of his Chief of Staff as a special adviser. This has been the case in successive administrations.

Whether former (a) Labour Party, (b) Labour Parliamentary and (c) Labour Together staff who have joined the Civil Service under recruitment principles exceptions since 4 July 2024 are permitted to attend Labour Party Conference.

Guidance on attendance at Party Conference for civil servants can be found on gov.uk at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-servants-and-party-conferences-guidance/annual-party-conferences-2024

With reference to the letter from the First Civil Service Commissioner of 30 August 2024 to Heads of Department on the review of appointments made by exception at delegated grades, when he expects the Commission to complete that review; and if he will publish the data gathered form departments as part of that review.

The timing and publication of the review are matters for the Civil Service Commission, which is operationally independent of the Cabinet Office.

On how many Fridays the Prime Minister has worked after 6.00pm since 4 July 2024.

The Prime Minister works all the hours required to deliver for the country.

What discussions (a) No.10 special advisers and (b) the No.10 Appointments Team have had with Lord Alli on recommending individuals for public appointments.

As was the case under previous administrations, public appointments follow the Governance Code on Public Appointments, as set out by the Cabinet Office. Further details can be found at the following link: Governance Code on Public Appointments - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

What guidance her Department issues to special advisers on briefing the media.

The Code of Conduct for Special Advisers is set by the Prime Minister and special advisers are expected to work in line with the Code at all times.

How many staff are seconded to 10 Downing Street from outside Government; what roles those people perform; from which outside body each has been seconded; and what the length of each secondment is.

For management and staffing purposes the Prime Minister’s Office is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer given by then Cabinet Office Minister Jeremy Quin on 15 June 2023, Official Report PQ 188973

What recent assessment he has made of the standard of briefing provided to the Prime Minister from the Civil Service; and what steps (a) he and (b) the Cabinet Secretary takes to ensure briefings meet Ministers' (i) requirements and (ii) preferences.

The Civil Service Code requires all civil servants to provide objective information and advice to ministers, and to present the options and facts accurately. The Government will continue to ensure that briefing to Ministers is of a high standard and meets the requirements and preferences of Ministers.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many people, other than special advisers, have been appointed to civil service posts in his Department without open competition since 4 July 2024; what their (a) job titles and (b) salary bands are; and on what basis each was appointed.

The Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 requires that selection to the Civil Service must be on merit, on the basis of fair and open competition. There may be instances where a role may meet the requirements for use of a Civil Service Commission exception. As part of this, the Civil Service Commission requires that departments provide a quarterly return on their use of Exceptions at SCS2 and above. This information can be found on the CSC website. The information requested could lead to individuals being identified therefore we are not able to provide job titles and salary bands (due to the potentially low numbers of people in each). The information about the overall number of people who have been appointed to civil service posts in Defra without open competition will take a disproportionate amount of activity to analyse and provide.