Written questions by Hollinrake.

Pursuant to the Answer of 24 November 2025 to Question 91039 on Trade Unions: Equality, how many (a) chairs and (b) committee members are entitled to use their work time for network activity; and what the name is of each diversity network in (i) his Department and (ii) NHS England.

The Department advises that up to three individuals per network, including chairs, co-chairs and committee members, may receive a 10% work time allocation for network activity, with line manager agreement. The Department has eight recognised diversity networks which align with characteristics protected under the Equality Act 2010 and/or characteristics particularly important to our organisational demographic:Age Network;Disability, Neurodiversity, Long-term Conditions and Carers Network;Faith and Belief Network;Parenting Network;Race Network;Sex Network ("sex" in the Equality Act 2010 refers specifically to biological sex recorded at birth, not acquired gender, and as such this network covers sex, with supporting forums discussing 'men's' and 'women's' issues);Sexuality and Gender Network; andSocial Equality and Support Network.NHS England does not set an organisation wide allocation or entitlement of protected time for staff network chairs or committee members. Any arrangements for time spent on network activity are agreed locally, based on business need.NHS England has 12 staff networks:Ability;Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic;Carers and Family Network;Christian Network;Disability and Well-being;Jewish;LGBTQIA+;Menopause;MultiKultural;Muslim;Neurodiversity; andWomen’s.

With reference to pages 92 and 96 respectively of NHS England's annual report and accounts 2024-25 and 2023-24, if he will set out the business case for the increase in (a) facility time headcount to 88, (b) facility time paybill to £193,550, and (c) paid trade union activities to 1,068 hours.

The increased facility time in 2024/25 noted in NHS England’s Annual Report and Accounts was due to NHS England undergoing organisational change. This followed the transfers of Health Education England and NHS Digital into NHS England, which required formal consultation under employment legislation with recognised trade unions. This is also the reason for the increased facility time paybill and paid trade union activities.

What the (a) status is and (b) terms of reference are of his Department's review into Labour Together; who commissioned the review; who it will report to; and whether its findings will be published.

The Prime Minister asked civil servants in the Cabinet Office propriety and ethics team to establish the facts in relation to allegations concerning the former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State jointly in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Cabinet Office, Josh Simons MP. These facts were reported to the Prime Minister, who referred the matter to the independent adviser on Ministerial standards. The Independent Adviser’s subsequent advice to the Prime Minister is published on gov.uk As a private organisation, any questions related to Labour Together are a matter for the board of Labour Together.

Who is responsible for his Department's review of Labour Together; or whether any Ministers has recused themselves.

The Prime Minister asked civil servants in the Cabinet Office propriety and ethics team to establish the facts in relation to allegations concerning the former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State jointly in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Cabinet Office, Josh Simons MP. These facts were reported to the Prime Minister, who referred the matter to the independent adviser on Ministerial standards. The Independent Adviser’s subsequent advice to the Prime Minister is published on gov.uk As a private organisation, any questions related to Labour Together are a matter for the board of Labour Together.

Who has a role in his Department's (a) inquiry into Lord Mandelson, (b) response to the Humble Address and (c) review of Labour Together; and whether anyone has recused themselves from these matters.

The former Cabinet Secretary was asked to review available information regarding Peter Mandelson’s contacts with Jeffrey Epstein during his period as a Minister. After an initial review of some documents, the matter was referred to the police. In light of the ongoing criminal investigation that was announced, that review has now been paused. The government is cooperating fully with the police investigation and providing any assistance required. The Cabinet Secretary has asked the Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary, to lead on the response to the Humble Address. Staff from across the Cabinet Office are involved in compliance with the Humble Address motion as necessary.The Cabinet Office Propriety and Ethics team were asked by the Prime Minister to carry out an exercise to establish the facts in response to allegations made about the conduct of Josh Simons. Following the conclusion of that process, the Prime Minister referred the matter to the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards and asked for his advice. The Independent Adviser provided advice to the Prime Minister on 27 February. Civil Servants remain bound by the Civil Service Code at all times, and by their departmental policies on managing conflicts of interest.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2026 to Question 102817 on Public Houses: Business Rates, if he will provide a hyperlink to the requested information cross-referenced by each individual billing authority in England.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN102817 on 13 January 2026 which provides a link to the published data available.

Whether a permanent Director General for the Proprietary and Constitution Group has been appointed; and recruitment process was for that position.

The Director General for Propriety and Constitution Group is currently filled on an interim basis, a permanent appointment has not been made. The recruitment campaign is still currently in planning stages and details will be released in due course.

Whether the Deputy Director of the Constitution Group remains (a) on a fixed term contract and (b) with that job title.

In line with data protection obligations, the Cabinet Office cannot disclose the personal contractual arrangements of individual members of staff

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 29 April 2025 to Question 45681 on Electoral Commission: Companies House, whether the Electoral Commission has used the powers conferred on it under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 in relation to Companies House data to date.

The Electoral Commission has not used the powers conferred on it under the provisions in the Economic Crime and Transparency Act 2023, in relation to the Company House data.

Pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2026 to Question 101775 on 1 Carlton Gardens: Council tax, whether the Chancellor’s residence in Downing Street is her primary residence.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given on 8 January 2026 to Question 101771.

Pursuant to the Answer of 12 January 2026 to Question 101767 on Jeffrey Epstein, whether Jeffery Epstein visited HM Treasury offices in Whitehall during the period 1997 to 2010.

Visitor information for HM Treasury offices in Whitehall is not retained for the time periods specified.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Rt hon. Member for (a) Tottenham and (b) Ashton-Under-Lyne made representations on the appointment of Lord Mandelson as Ambassador to the United States.

I refer the Hon. Member to the Government's response to the Urgent Question tabled on 12 February, the Written Ministerial Statement in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister that same day, and Oral Statement on the 23 February which set out an update on the Government's process. We will set out further details in due course. The Government wishes to ensure that Parliament's instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.

Whether the Prime Minister was informed of Gordon Brown's letter to the Cabinet Secretary of February 2025 on the relationship between Lord Mandelson and Jeffery Epstein.

I refer the Hon Member to the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister’s words to the House during the debate on the ‘US Department of Justice Release of Files’ on Monday 2 February (Hansard Vol 780, Col 49). https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2026-02-02/debates/10A2B314-165E-4992-A7BF-0F30739D7BBD/USDepartmentOfJusticeReleaseOfFiles

What role Lord Mandelson played while Ambassador to the United States on advising on the awarding of defence contracts to Palantir.

Details of central Government contracts above £12,000 for procurements commenced before 24 February 2025 are published on Contracts Finder. Contracts procured under the Procurement Act 2023, which came into force on 24 February 2025, are published on the Central Digital Platform Find a Tender service. The details published online include whether each contract was let through competitive tendering or via direct award.

Whether the Cabinet Office due diligence exercise for the appointment of Lord Mandelson as Ambassador to the United States considered (a) the Financial Times report entitled Links between Peter Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein detailed in JPMorgan report, published on 21 June 2023 and (b) the associated material on the Epstein-Mandelson relationship detailed in JP Morgan's Project Jeep released by the US courts, reference: Government of the United States Virgin Islands v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (1:22-cv-10904), District Court, S.D. New York, published on 20 June 2023, Exhibit 4.

I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.

What role Jonathan Powell, as national security adviser, had in the (a) advice to the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary and (b) due diligence, over the appointment of Lord Mandelson as Ambassador to the United States.

I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.

Further to the oral statement of 2 February 2026, Official Report, Column 47, on US Department of Justice Release of Files, and with reference to the Cabinet Secretary’s review into Peter Mandelson, whether the review will be assisted by the Cabinet Office Propriety and Ethics Team, including the members of PET who assisted in the drafting of the due diligence on Mandelson.

The former Cabinet Secretary was asked to review available information regarding Peter Mandelson’s contacts with Jeffrey Epstein during his period as a Minister. After an initial review of some documents, the matter was referred to the police. In light of the ongoing criminal investigation that was announced, that review has now been paused. The government is cooperating fully with the police investigation and providing any assistance required.

If he will ask the Cabinet Secretary to investigate Peter Mandelson's role (a) as an adviser to the then Leader of the Opposition and (b) in the selection of Parliamentary Candidates.

The former Cabinet Secretary was asked to review available information regarding Peter Mandelson’s contacts with Jeffrey Epstein during his period as a Minister. After an initial review of some documents, the matter was referred to the police. In light of the ongoing criminal investigation that was announced, that review has now been paused. The government is cooperating fully with the police investigation and providing any assistance required.

What recent discussions the Financial Conduct Authority has had with representative bodies, including UKHospitality, on unresolved Covid Business Interruption claims.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), as the independent regulator for financial services, sets the conduct standards required of insurance firms. This includes rules requiring insurers to handle claims fairly and promptly. The FCA meets with a wide variety of organisations in the course of delivering its statutory objectives. Queries about such engagements can be addressed directly to the FCA. The Supreme Court published its final judgment in the FCA’s Business Interruption Insurance test case in 2021. At the time of the judgment, the FCA set out its expectation that insurers should communicate to all impacted policyholders what the judgment meant for their claim and should move quickly to resolve claims as determined by the judgment. The FCA court case did not cover all potential issues with business interruption policies. The FCA has been clear that, in the event of further court rulings, insurers will need to consider carefully how the rulings impact claims they have already decided. The FCA is continuing to supervise firms to ensure they are meeting their expectations and has robust powers to take action where necessary.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, with reference to the Electoral Commission press release entitled Electoral Commission response to cyber-attack attribution, of 25 March 2024, whether the cyber-attack compromised data other than the electoral registers; and whether it included the Electoral Commission's investigatory data.

During the cyber-attack in 2021-2022, hostile actors were active in the Electoral Commission’s systems which held our email, our control systems, and copies of the electoral registers. The Commission cannot be certain whether any data was copied or downloaded.Information, evidence and analysis relating to investigatory matters, along with donations and loans data was held in a separate system not affected by the attack.The Commission has now significantly strengthened its systems against cyber-attacks and has secured Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation.