Written questions by Glen.

How many people, other than special advisers, have been appointed to civil service posts in (a) his Department, (b) the Government Equalities Office and (c) 10 Downing Street 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 Civil Service Commission (CSC) 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. Details of appointments below SCS2 are not published.

How many and what proportion of job vacancies at 10 Downing Street were externally advertised in the period since 4 July 2024.

For management and staffing purposes the Prime Minister’s Office is a business unit of the Cabinet Office and consistently follows the same principles, protocols and approvals to recruitment as all other areas of the Department. Since the General Election there have been 20 job vacancies at 10 Downing Street. Of these 8 were advertised externally. The 12 vacancies that were not advertised externally were either for short term cover (3-6 months and one was a slightly longer maternity cover) or for roles that required extensive and specific Civil Service knowledge and experience. This approach is in keeping with practice in previous administrations.

What guidance his Department issues on ministerial (a) authorisation and (b) approval of a decision to appoint a civil servant under one of the Recruitment Principles exceptions.

Ministerial approval is not required to appoint a civil servant using an exception to the Recruitment Principles.

Who has visited Chequers in an official capacity since 4 July 2024.

Chequers is not a government building; it is run and managed by an independent trust. As was the practice under the previous Administration, the incumbent Prime Minister uses Chequers consistent with the wishes of the donor, the late Sir Arthur Lee, who gave it to the nation for the use of the serving Prime Minister, for both official and private use. This is set out in the Chequers Estate Act 1917. Details of official hospitality at Chequers are published on a quarterly basis and are available via gov.uk (Cabinet Office: ministers' transparency publications - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)). As was the case under the previous Administration,returns exclude officials and special advisers who attend Chequers in an official capacity and representatives of foreign and devolved governments. Personal or party political hospitality is not paid for by the public purse.

Whether Lord Alli has financed any hospitality receptions in 10 Downing Street since 4 July 2024.

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

What data the Office for National Statistics holds on the differences in net housing delivery between (a) England and (b) Wales in (i) absolute terms and (b) per capita since 2010.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 12th September is attached.

What the clearance process is for responses in the Prime Minister's name to written Parliamentary Questions.

It has been the case under all Administrations that ministers, including Prime Ministers, are responsible for written PQ answers in their names.

Pursuant to the Answer of 31 July 2024 to Question 1240 on Morgan McSweeney, who line manages Mr Sweeney in his capacity as a special adviser.

It is a longstanding policy to not comment on individuals.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 August 2024 to Question HL548 on Government Departments: Remote Working, whether his Department holds comparative headquarters occupancy data for (a) June and (b) July 2024.

The publication of this data was suspended in line with pre-election guidance for the duration of the Pre-Election Period. We will provide an update on future publication plans in due course.

When the Prime Minister intends to publish the List of Cabinet Committees.

The Cabinet Committee list has been published to Parliament via a Written Ministerial Statement and publicly on GOV.UK.

How many Downing Street passes have been issued since the general election to people who are not Ministers, civil servants, staff of the No 10 political office, special advisers, spouses of Ministers, Parliamentary Private Secretaries, or Labour Party staff.

I refer the Rt Hon Members to the answer given by the then Prime Minister on 7 February 2017, Official Report, PQ 62542.Following the practice followed by past administrations, the Government does not comment on security matters.

Whether his Department has received representations from trade unions on civil service (a) external spending on equality, diversity and inclusion policies, (b) staff responsible for equality, diversity and inclusion policies, (c) diversity networks and (d) guidance on equality, diversity and inclusion policies since 4 July 2024.

The Cabinet Office discusses many different workforce matters with Civil Service trade unions as part of regular discussions.

Whether the Prime Minister uses an email account in the course of his duties.

As part of a modern working environment, Ministers, including the Prime Minister, receive advice and communicate with officials, advisers and others through secure electronic channels.

Pursuant to the answer of 30 July 2024 to Question 935 on Ministers and Senior Civil Servants: Travel, if he will publish the (a) Cabinet Office and (b) 10 Downing Street policy on (i) business and (ii) first class travel for (A) Ministers, (B) civil servants and (C) special advisers.

The relevant codes of conduct, which contain further details on travel policy, are published online. Relevant parts include section 10 of the Ministerial Code and section 8.2 of the Civil Service Management Code. Departmental guidance, where applicable, is published on the relevant intranets.

Whether 10 Downing Street has a workplace dress code for staff.

For management and staffing purposes the Prime Minister’s Office is part of the Cabinet Office. As was the case under the previous administration, there is no specific workplace dress code policy. Civil servants are expected to dress appropriately for work.

How many full-time equivalent civil servants support the work of the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff.

For management and staffing purposes the Prime Minister’s Office is part of the Cabinet Office. All staff in the Prime Minister’s Office support the work of the Prime Minister to ensure the effective running of government.

What his policy is on the number of special advisers (a) Cabinet Ministers and (b) Ministers of State attending Cabinet can appoint.

Cabinet Ministers and Ministers who regularly attend Cabinet may appoint special advisers. All special adviser appointments require approval of the Prime Minister.

What the core working hours are for (a) permanent civil servants and (b) special advisers in 10 Downing Street.

Expected working hours are set out for all Cabinet Office employees in their terms and conditions of employment.

What recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Interests; and whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of merging that role into the proposed Ethics and Integrity Commission.

The Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests plays a critically important role as a source of trusted, impartial advice.The Government has committed to establishing a new independent Ethics and Integrity Commission, with its own independent Chair. We will ensure that this Commission has the powers and remit necessary to fulfil its responsibilities and will provide an update in due course.

Whether planning applications have been submitted to Westminster City Council in relation to works on the Downing Street estate since 4 July 2024.

No planning permissions have been applied for since 4 July 2024.