Written questions by Hollinrake.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2026, to Question 116489, on By-elections: Gorton and Denton, if the Electoral Commission will make it their policy to issue a press release on the conclusion of any assessment it has made in relation to this by-election.

Greater Manchester Police are currently reviewing allegations of electoral fraud at the Gorton and Denton by-election. The Commission is in close contact with the police and with the Returning Officer.Once the review is concluded, the Commission will consider the outcome and any additional action needed.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission has produced guidance on how donations made in foreign currencies should be treated for the purposes of donation reporting rules.

The Electoral Commission hasn't produced specific guidance on donations that are in foreign currencies.Political parties must report the value of the donations in Pounds Sterling at the time of receipt if they are above the reporting threshold and check it for permissibility if it is above £500.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, with reference to the urgent question of 23 February 2026, on Labour Together and APCO Worldwide: Cabinet Office Review, if the Electoral Commission will publish their internal report on Labour Together.

The Commission does not publish internal documents relating to its regulatory work. It publishes information about recently closed investigations every month, including the possible offences it investigated, the outcome and any further action. An overview of the Commission’s investigation into Labour Together is listed under April 2021 – March 2022.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the answer of 11 December 2025, to Question 97793, on Reform UK: Cryptocurrencies, from what date have political parties been required to declare to the Electoral Commission donations that have been made via a crypto-currency or as a crypto-asset.

The Commission has published guidance for political parties that are considering accepting cryptocurrency assets. It sets out that cryptoassets are considered property, which is in line with HMRC and Financial Conduct Authority guidance, and should be treated as a non-monetary donation.It has always been a requirement for political parties to report the nature and value of non-monetary donations if they are greater than the reporting threshold (£11,800). The Commission’s updated guidance clarified that this applies to cryptoasset donations.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, with reference to the Electoral Commission, Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25, HC 1086, page 107, why the Electoral Commission has an independent adviser for equality, diversity and inclusion.

The Electoral Commission does not currently have an independent Equality, Diversity and Inclusion adviser. The Commission appointed an independent adviser on EDI between September 2022 - September 2023.The Commission's EDI Strategy is on the Commission's website. It outlines the equalities legislation that applies to the Commission, how it meets its duties, and how it strives to ensure electoral processes are open and accessible to all voters and campaigners.

Whether the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists has assessed whether IM01 LIMITED trading as Inter-Mediate should be registered.

The Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists is a statutory independent office holder, responsible for keeping and publishing the Register of Consultant Lobbyists. Requests for information can be sent to office@orcl.gov.uk

With reference to the then Deputy Prime Minister's Oral Statement of 25 March 2024 on Cyber-security and UK Democracy, Official Report, columns 1261 to 1264, what was the name of the Chinese state-sponsored group which undertook the cyber-attack.

The then Deputy Prime Minister’s Oral Statement of 25 March 2024 on Cyber-security and UK Democracy refers to two malicious cyber campaigns by Chinese state-affiliated actors: “first, compromising the United Kingdom’s Electoral Commission between 2021 and 2022, as was announced last summer, and secondly, by attempting reconnaissance activity against UK parliamentary accounts in a separate campaign in 2021”. Attribution for cyber-attacks is a formal process. The Government will only attribute a cyber-attack to a specific actor when we are confident that we have the evidence to do so, and when it is in the UK’s national interest. In the oral statement dated 25 March 2024, the National Cyber Security Centre attributed the second campaign to the Chinese state-affiliated cyber actor known as APT31.

Media and Sport, whether she has had discussions with the Charity Commission on it making an assessment of whether IM01 LIMITED trading as Inter-Mediate, Charity number: 1143848, is undertaking (a) charitable activities and (b) commercial activities.

DCMS has not had discussions with the Charity Commission for England and Wales regarding the activities of IM01 Limited.

Representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the answer of 17 July 2025 to Question 66189 on Written Questions, whether the House of Commons Table Office has an internal guidance document on the carding of written parliamentary questions.

The Table Office cards questions which do not comply with the House’s rules of order. ‘Carding’ is essentially an invitation for the Member, or staff acting on their behalf, to call the Table Office to discuss and resolve the issue so the question can be swiftly tabled or, if necessary, withdrawn. The rules of order relating to questions are summarised in Chapter 22 of Erskine May which provides the basis on which questions are carded. The Office has various internal working documents and training materials providing guidance on operational matters including on questions, motions and the order paper.

What is the make and model of the safe used by the Cabinet Office Propriety and Ethics Team in 70 Whitehall.

We do not comment on security matters.

With reference to the publication of the remuneration of the Prime Minister’s Chief Economic Advisor on the Direct Ministerial Appointments portal, published on 24 February 2026, whether any special advisers are paid £151,778 or more per annum.

Special adviser salaries are published in the Annual Report on Special Advisers, which are published on GOV.UK. Current special adviser salaries will be published as part of the 2026 Annual Report for Special Advisers in due course.

With reference to the Cabinet Office news story entitled Dame Antonia Romeo appointed as first female Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service to drive change and implement the government’s agenda, published on 19 February 2026, if he will publish the recruitment process to select the Cabinet Secretary, including whether it was a open and fair competition.

I refer to my answer for 115556, following the departure of Sir Chris Wormald as Cabinet Secretary, the Prime Minister and the First Civil Service Commissioner agreed a process to appoint a new Cabinet Secretary.

Whether the new Cabinet Secretary is on a level transfer from her previous role.

The Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service is the most senior role in the Civil service and a level transfer is not possible.

What the criteria are for the forfeiture of a (a) Ministerial and (b) civil service pension.

Information on the criteria for forfeiture of a Civil Service pension is provided on the scheme website within the Employer Pension Guide.The Ministerial Pension Scheme is part of the Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund (PCPF) and there is no provision in the scheme rules for the forfeiture of benefits.

What the average salary is for a (a) male and (b) female Permanent Secretary.

Of the 21 Heads of Department: For (a) Male Heads of Department the average salary as of 16 March 2026 is £200,324.For (b) Female Heads of Department the average Salary as of 16 March 2026 is £199,329.

Whether the hon. Member for Makerfield is eligible for a Ministerial severance payment.

No. Unpaid ministers are not entitled to a severance payment under the terms of the Ministerial and Other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991.

What guidance his Department has issued on the use of merit order when using a reserve list for the appointment of a (a) Cabinet Secretary and (b) Permanent Secretary.

The Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles set out rules on reserve list appointments (here, page 5). This applies to all appointments, and there is no separate guidance for appointment of a Cabinet Secretary or Permanent Secretaries.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Lord Mandelson’s (a) salary and (b) allowances whilst a member of the Senior Civil Service were liable for income tax and National Insurance, and whether he was resident and domiciled in the UK for tax purposes.

The same tax rules applied to Mr Mandelson's remuneration as apply to all other permanent UK civil service staff working overseas on standard contracts for the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office.

Whether the Leader of His Majesty’s Official Opposition is consulted on Cabinet Secretary appointments.

The Leader of His Majesty’s Official Opposition is not required to be consulted on these appointments. The First Civil Service Commissioner published the letter she sent to the Leader of His Majesty’s Official Opposition on the recent appointment of the Cabinet Secretary (here).

Pursuant to the statement of 12 March 2026, Official Report, on Defending Democracy Taskforce, if he will make it his policy to ensure political parties are provided via the Parliamentary Parties Panel with the contact details of the relevant local police force contacts, for the dedicated superintendent co-ordinator for Operation Bridger, in each Police Force area with May 2026 elections.

The Home Office remains firmly committed to protecting elected representatives and those standing for election.If a candidate is in immediate danger, they should call 999 and reference Operation Bridger for Members of Parliament or Operation Ford for locally elected representatives.For non‑emergency incidents, reports should be made via 101 or online, again referencing Operation Bridger or Operation Ford as appropriate. This will ensure that Bridger Leads and/or the Force Elected Official Advisors are notified of any incidents affecting candidates standing in the May 2026 elections.