Written questions by Wood.

Whether Morgan McSweeney fully passed security clearance and vetting.

We do not comment on the details of individual clearances or national security as a matter of course.

With reference to the Cabinet Office document Publication regarding events surrounding the granting of Developed Vetting to Peter Mandelson, dated 17 April 2026, if he will place in the Library a copy of the full template form.

I refer you to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, the statement made by the Prime Minister on 20 April, and the Government’s response to the debate of 21 April, 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.

On what date the Prime Minister first became aware that Lord Mandelson had not received full security vetting clearance.

I refer the Hon Member to the Statement made by the Prime Minister on Security Vetting on the 20 April 2026, Official Report, Column 23-26.

Whether there are any rules and guidance that prevent the sharing of an outcome of a security vetting with another government department for (a) an ambassadorial and (b) a head of mission senior civil servant appointment.

I refer the Hon Member to the Statement provided by the Prime Minister on 20 April 2026 titled Security Vetting, Official Report, Column 24-25.

With reference to the Cabinet Office document Publication regarding events surrounding the granting of Developed Vetting to Peter Mandelson, dated 17 April 2026, which boxes were ticked by UKSV in relation to Lord Mandelson’s vetting for the (a) level of concern and (b) overall decision or recommendation boxes.

I refer the Hon Member to Prime Minister’s Questions on 22 April 2026, Official Report, Column 317

With reference to the UK Security Vetting document entitled DV - Guidance Pack for Applicants, updated on 23 September 2024, if he will set out the circumstances in which senior civil servants can be appointed to Civil Service roles requiring Developed Vetting (DV) clearance where they have failed their DV security vetting.

United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) provides a range of independent vetting services designed to identify potential personnel security risks. However, the employing department ultimately owns the risk of any appointment decision. Senior officials with responsibility for personnel security within their department evaluate vetting outcomes alongside the specific requirements of a post and the organisation's risk appetite.

Pursuant to the answer of 9 April 2026 to Question 113778 on Propriety and Constitution Group: Recruitment, for what the reason the recruitment process did not open when Darren Tierney moved to the ONS in August 2025.

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

Pursuant to the answer of 27 March 2026 to Question 110816 on Gordon Brown, whether the letter from Gordon Brown and reply will be disclosed as part of the response to the Humble Address on Lord Mandelson.

I refer you to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address.

Pursuant to the answer of 10 April 2026 to Question 113783 on Cabinet Office: Reviews, whether staff previously employed by Labour Together were involved in the fact finding exercise.

No staff previously employed by Labour Together were involved in the fact finding exercise.

Whether he has a policy on Ministers attending events with the Muslim Council for Britain in a non-Ministerial capacity.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 17 March 2026, Official Report, PQ 118753.

With reference to the Cabinet Office Freedom of Information Act response, reference FOI2026/04975 dated 13 April 2026, on Downing Street expenditure, if he will list the suppliers for the (a) goods and (b) services included.

It has not proved possible to respond to the Rt Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation

Whether the exit payment given to Chris Wormald was above the cap of the Civil Service Compensation Scheme used to determine the exit payment to Simon Case.

Details of payments made to the former Cabinet Secretary will be published in the Annual Report and Accounts for Cabinet Office for the financial year in which the payment was made.

Whether government-related text messages held personally by former No10 special advisers are in scope of the Humble Address on Lord Mandelson.

I refer you to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address.All government departments, ministers and relevant individuals have been instructed to retain and provide to the Cabinet Office all information they hold that falls in scope of the Humble Address motion.

With reference to the transparency data, Expenditure Over £25,000 - February 2026 (Cabinet Office Core), published on 26 March 2026, what is the purpose and nature of the expenditure relating to GRS - SURGE CONTRACT via PEREGRINE INTERNATIONAL.

The expenditure relating to "GRS - SURGE CONTRACT via PEREGRINE INTERNATIONAL" in February 2026 refers to the provision of flexible, ad-hoc recruitment support for the Government Recruitment Service (GRS). This contract enables GRS to scale its capacity to meet fluctuations in customer demand. In February 2026, the expenditure covered 41 unique recruitment actions across 13 government departments. These actions included application sifting, interview scoring, the provision of virtual panel members, and candidate support sessions for reasonable adjustments. This model ensures the timely delivery of essential recruitment services while maintaining financial efficiency.

Pursuant to the Answer of 2 March 2026 to Question 113712 on Chris Wormald, whether the settlement agreement included a non-disclosure provision.

I refer to my answer for 113712 Sir Chris Wormald has entered a settlement agreement with the Cabinet Office, and this does not include a non-disclosure agreement.

With reference to the Cabinet Secretary's objectives 2026-27 published on 7 April 2026, what steps the Cabinet Secretary plans to take to deliver her 2026-27 objective that the civil service retains the confidence of all political parties.

It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2025 to Question 73331 on Home Office: Redundancy Pay, whether the £30,000 tax-free redundancy allowance also applied to the severance payment to the outgoing Cabinet Secretary.

It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2026 to Question 112179 on Ethics and Integrity Commission and Lobbying, whether conflict of interest (a) restrictions and (b) mitigations were implemented in relation to (i) Jonathan Powell and (ii) Inter Mediate.

There is an established system in place for the declaration and management of special advisers' interests. As has been the case under successive administrations, interests deemed relevant for publication for special advisers in No10 and the Cabinet Office are published on an annual basis by the Cabinet Office. Mr Powell sought and received advice on his interests. He has followed every element of the advice received.

Pursuant to the answer of 25 March 2026 to Question 116506 on 9 Downing Street: Repairs and Maintenance, what the transaction number, value and date is for the reimbursed payment to the Government Property Agency; and whether the January publication referenced is the January data published in February 2026.

It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2026 to Question 119406 on Ian Horobin, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of establishing a new convention covering the withdrawal of Government nominations to the peerage.

It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation